Actor's fury as 100 Lime Bikes are dumped outside his home amid calls for Sadiq Khan to get a grip on the scourge of abandoned bicycles plaguing London's streets

Daily Mail​

16-07-2025

The star of Jesus of Nazareth has spoken out about his four-year battle with the council over e-bikes piling up outside his front door.
Robert Powell, 81, revealed he 'sent 570 photographs' to Camden Council showing the bikes taking over his doorstep.
The Bafta-nominated actor urged the council to take action, saying that he and his wife, Barbara Lord, once counted at least 100 bikes in a parking bay in front of their Highgate home.
'You've got two octogenarians here who are in danger of being killed,' Powell said.
'The entire pavement has been blocked by bikes. Camden say they prioritise safety and safer travel, so do they know that allowing bikes on pavements is not safe for anyone?
'Last year we called the police about the bikes, they just laughed.'
The actor added that he was 'terrified' of having a heart attack due to having to move 10 to 12 heavy bikes from the area each day.
He said his GP has even written a letter to the council explaining how stressful the situation is for him and his wife.
The spot is particularly busy as it is close to Hampstead Heath, the actor told the Camden New Journal.
Camden Council responded by saying it is working to relocate the bay and has marked out a new bay further up the road.
A council spokesman said: 'We've been in touch with Mr Powell and Mrs Lord and assured them that we're using our powers to relocate this bay while we work to secure a new permanent location.
'While we're committed to promoting active travel options like cycling, we also understand how inappropriate parking of electric bikes can block access for residents.
'As part of our new approach, our team have been busy enforcing the removal of obstructive bikes – without notice – as part of their regular inspections.'
Lime was unable to offer a comment, but MailOnline understands the company believes the bay could be better placed and recommends it be moved due to overcrowding issues.
A Forest spokesperson said: 'We are aware that a small number of parking bays can become incredibly busy particularly during periods of good weather and regularly be well over capacity.
'Our Operations team visit the bay several times every day to tidy and clear excess bikes. This bay has been marked for an upcoming relocation to help resolve the issues.'
Riders can rent e-bikes on the street in London by picking them up with a mobile phone app, but they are often not required to put them in a designated area after use.
This has led to them blocking pavements across the capital - with councils receiving thousands of complaints and some even threatening to ban hire firms altogether.
Last December, new powers to crack down on the scourge of e-bikes and e-scooters being dumped on pavements were hailed as the 'beginning of the end for the Wild West model'.
Enforcement has however, become increasingly complex, although the new powers mean Mayor Sadiq Khan will able to fine users and operators who dump their devices in dangerous locations.
It comes after Transport for London (TfL) warned rental e-bike operators could be fined as part of measures to tackle 'significant safety issues' around poor parking.
In September, Brent Council threatened that Lime would have to remove its e-bikes from the borough by October 31 for allegedly ignoring its safety concerns amid 'havoc' caused by the cycles.
But the council agreed to allow Lime to continue operating after the company addressed these concerns.
In Hammersmith and Fulham, more than 100 e-bikes were seized by the council in August last year after complaints from residents that they were blocking roads and pavements.
TfL revealed last November that rental e-bike operators could be fined as part of measures to fight back against poor parking in London.
It published a new 'enforcement policy' in response to widespread concerns about e-bikes blocking pavements and said it will take action over dockless e-bikes being left on its red route road network outside designated places, and on its land such as station forecourts and bus garages.
This brings e-bike regulations closer into line with those for rental e-scooters, which are already required to be parked in bays.
It added that responses may include warning letters, fixed penalty notices (FPNs) to operators, prosecutions and removal of vehicles.
FPNs would be £100 each, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.