Cycling in car parks...where do we stand legally?

Reading this whole thread is so sad, I'm getting pretty sick of anything even slightly 'on the edge' in London getting pushed out. Natasha, I'd try and re-engage with the Council and send an email back to them and ask them to re-engage: re-iterate the fact that you have always tried to keep noise to a minimum and be considerate to neighbours, that you offer a valuable service in that you are 'keeping kids off the streets', helping the space to be utlised and therefore keeping the prostitues and crack-heads away, that you have fostered good relationships with the security staff at the car park and that you are providing a great atmosphere for cyclists to learn cycling skills. State politely that you think they have got the wrong idea about what you do there ("accident waiting to happen") (As if cars speeding out of the car park aren't the same FFS!!) and encourage them to come down and see the event for themselves. Tell them that if they have specific concerns about noise, hours and the way in which you exit the car park that you are more than happy to sign up to a code of conduct of some sort....

Secondly, the Corporation must have some kind of arts and cutlute representative / employee. Get in touch with them as it is good to have someone who will understand you and be a positive voice within the corporation - likewise some of the council members.

Lastly, get in touch with the LCC; they have some kind of public liability insurance for all their events and if you can somehow demonstrate that one of you is 'the organiser' and an LCC member I think their insurance will cover your 'event'.

All is not lost, I had a similar situation with an event I organied a few years back and had a similar office-based reaction, but once I got the councillors and arts people on side the beurocrat was over-ruled and my event went ahead.

Keep trying, and don't rise to the bait of their somewhat misguided email tone!

Send a VERY short email to tony.halmos@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Tony Halmos is the Corporation's Director of Communications.... and a senior member of the CIPR profession in the UK, so he should take the importance of these things extra seriously.....

Say...

• you're very disappointed at the approach taken by the Corporation when it is trying to be so cycle friendly

• in the first instance could he look into this....

• draw his attention via a link to this thread, and the increasing influence LFGSS is having in London as he'll find surfing the site....

• and then could he suggest how this could be 'resolved'.... perhaps a meeting between leading-hipster-lights, and someone from the Planning or Policy unit.

• He should also be able to tell you who the local 'Alderman' is for that site, and their email addresses (if you can't find it from the CoL web site)

• Then email the local 'Alderman' - send him a copy of your correspondence with Tony Halmos.

Alderman are the most senior the local community officials. From these across the City comes the Lord Mayor of the City of London.

The CoL is a local authority, but it is a bit special. As citizens you/we have every right to engage with those who are elected in the area to serve not just those who live their, but also those that pass through.

Good luck, and of course, post their replies on here.

If you don't get a reply from Mr Halmos with 48 hours, then post that here too....

Full marks to markbikes and Bagheera for these^...

Get organised trixxers! This is not aimed at Tash in particular, who seems busy. I hope you can get your voices heard.