Late-night workers in London nightclubs, restaurants and hotels could be severely hit by plans being considered by Westminster Council to introduce metered charging to park in the West End on Sundays and between 1am and 6am on weekdays.
The discussions, which suggest the tariff could be as high as £4 an hour, are already worrying casinos. Ann Talbot, junior manager at the 50 St James's casino, said many staff there who earned just £13,000-£14,000 a year feared the costs might force them out of their jobs.
Talbot said many employees in the casino were mothers who had to work unsociable hours when public transport was closed while their husbands were home to look after the children.
As well as hitting staff in night clubs, casinos and all-night caf‚s, the tariff would also affect restaurant workers, who are often still cleaning up at 1.30am after closing at 12.30am, and hotel workers who start before 1am or finish after 6am.
A spokeswoman for the council said the proposals were being considered but added that no decision had been made to introduce the tariffs and that businesses would be consulted beforehand. She said the £4 tariff was "speculation".
She admitted that parking revenues were down, but said the proposed tariffs were aimed at keeping the roads clear for emergency vehicles, especially from illegal minicabs double parking in the West End.
Martin Couchman, deputy chief executive at the British Hospitality Association, said he had not heard of the proposals but viewed them as a "retrograde step".
"If it is true, it will have a damaging effect on the leisure business and we would oppose it very strongly," he said. "I don't see any justification in it at all unless the council is trying to raise extra cash by squeezing business.
Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 29 May - 4 June 2003