We the undersigned hereby request that Westminster City Council does NOT introduce parking charges in Central London on Sundays from the autumn.
The Sunday Trading Act 1994 was introduced to preserve Sunday as the traditional day for attending church services while allowing retailers to trade for up to six hours. The imposition of parking restrictions and charges on Sundays will prevent many who currently attend a Church in Central London from doing so. There are insufficient parking meters around most churches, irrespective of the charges that would also be payable, and without free parking all Central London congregations may decline. Public transport is at its most unreliable on Sundays, and many elderly people simply have no other means to travel than by car.
Clearly the increase in Sunday trading is the reason for the increased pressure on the streets on Sundays, but the legislation was not intended to impact negatively on the use of Church buildings. There are wide ranging negative impacts should the congregations not be strong enough to sustain these buildings and the many important social, cultural and religious activities which are run from them.