Lendal Bridge ‘Rip-Off’ Reversed By New CYC Leader

Lendal Bridge ‘Rip-Off’ Reversed By New CYC Leader

• – an “In My View” update by NIGEL WARD, reporting on new City of York Council Leader Councillor Daffyd WILLIAMS’ decision to pay back the Council’s ill-gotten gains.

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Readers may remember the row over the unlawfully implemented traffic prohibition at York’s Lendal Bridge.

Briefly, former Leader Councillor James ALEXANDER [Lab.] was determined to stand by the decision to offer repayment of thousands of Penalty Charge Notices oONLY to those motorists who actively applied for a refund.

• “A Poke In The ‘Eye’ For York City Council”

A number of commentators (myself included) took the view that for the Council to retain payments made under the terms of the faulty regulations was probably illegal (and perhaps even criminal) under the terms of the Fraud Act 2006 or the Theft Act 1968.

• “City of York Council: The Ballad Of Lendal Bridge”

Unsurprisingly, referrals to Chief Constable Dave JONES of the North Yorkshire Police resulted in no prosecutions being brought against the Council.

Within the Council, however, feelings ran high, with a number of acrimonious and heated exchanges taking place, both between opposing Councillors and even between Councillors and Officers.

• “CYC Leader Cllr. James ALEXANDER – Assault Allegations”

All things considered, it surprised few when Leader Councillor James ALEXANDER ‘suddenly’ announced his resignation, both as Leader of the Council and as Leader of the Labour Group.

• “City of York Council Leader Cllr James Alexander Quits”

Now comes the announcement that James ALEXANDER’s successor, newly-elected Leader Councillor Dafydd WILLIAMS [Lab.] – clearly mindful of the huge task before him rebuilding public confidence in the Council – has already instructed Officers to refund payments to ALL motorists caught under the faulty regulations.

Councillor Dafydd WILLIAMS has been reported as stating:

“The council got this wrong, and we are keen to make amends and move forward. We cannot put the Lendal Bridge issue to bed while people are still owed money.”

Whatever Councillor Dafydd WILLIAMS’ motives, we at the Enquirer applaud a victory for common sense and common decency, in the public interest, and offer our special appreciation to Private Eye and to ‘Mr Loophole’ Nick FREEMAN. Salute!

“We are all in this together”.