Churches in parish coup plot to grab power from Westminster

Church leaders are planning to grab power from Westminster council following the row over parking charges in the West End.

They want to set up a network of parish councils to take control of local decision making over issues such as parking from the authority which they claim "doesn't listen". A group of Westminster churches met last night to start the process of reviving parish councils, which were abolished in London half a century ago.

The churches say their move comes after Westminster council tried to introduce parking charges of up to £4.80 an hour in the West End after 6.30pm and on Sunday afternoons.

Church leaders said the charges would have devastated congregations as worshippers would not be able to afford to come into central London.

The charges were scrapped last week following a campaign led by the churches and businesses and backed by the Standard. Michael Beckett, church warden for St George's in Hanover Square, where the meeting was held, said the parking fiasco had forced church officials to look at ways to win back power for the community.

Mr Beckett said: "Certainly with parking, Westminster admitted they got it wrong and weren't listening. Westminster consulted us, the Mayfair Residents' Association, the Marylebone Residents' Association and others who said no, and ignored it. If we had a parish council we would have some absolute rights and powers."

The council is consulting on the future of "Community Governance" including the possibility of reviving parish or neighbourhood councils.

The churches said they had not been contacted by Westminster city council about the consultation which began in November but ends next week.

Mr Beckett said: "The churches literally found out about this 10 days ago and we have had no direct contact from Westminster. That's wrong."

A group of residents in Queens Park in the north of the borough have been gathering local support for a community council.

Father Tony Nye of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Mayfair, said: "In many areas of central London a lot of people who are concerned are those who attend the churches. They are very regular and committed, but would have been cut out because of double yellow lines and parking.

"Parish councils would be another way for religious people to have their voice heard in what is a very secular country.

"The Conservative party is no longer the 'Church of England on its knees'. Many are very secular in their thinking and are materialists like any other. This was so about the parking question - they wanted the money."

Christopher Warrack, chairman of the Churches Working Together In Westminster, said: "I'm not suggesting that the churches should be in power, but they have a vital moral voice to offer this society at every level. A network of parish councils in the centre of London is an extremely exciting idea and I am sure the churches will be very active in it."

Resident Marie Warner, 46, said: "We have seen Westminster's incompetence in how they handled parking and this lends weight to people having power put back into their own hands."

As well as parking the parish councils could take decisions on crime prevention, land acquisition, public lavatories, street lighting and litter bins. The reintroduction of parish councils forms a key part of Communities Secretary Eric Pickles's localism agenda.

Robert Davis, deputy leader of Westminster City Council, said: "Participation in Westminster's community governance review is open to everyone - we would encourage all interested parties to feed into this important debate about the future governance of our city.

"If there are other organisations who need additional time to prepare a submission, or wish to understand the governance review they should contact us, and we'll help them as far as we can."

"Since the launch of the consultation, we have received just under 250 responses from a diverse range of local groups - we look forward to receiving more and hearing your views."

Why do Westminster churches feel so strongly about restoring parish councils?

They were bitterly opposed to Westminster council's proposed evening and Sunday parking charges but felt that their local representatives completely ignored their views during a consultation.

What powers would parish councils have?

According to a White Paper published by David Cameron last summer, parish councils could take control of decision-making over a range of local issues, including "parking and traffic restrictions". Westminster's own "Community Governance Review" consultation mentions "the provision of car parking" as one the services that could be provided. They would also be able to raise money through a parish "precept" on the council tax.

How would a parish council be set up?

At least 10 per cent of local voters need to sign a petition demanding its creation. Then the "parent" local authority, in this case Westminster council, would have to approve the proposal.

Why are there no parish councils in London?

They were abolished when the GLC was set up in 1963 as the principal level of local government in the capital, apart from the boroughs. The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act of 2007 lifted the bar on parishes in London, although none have yet been set up.