Westminster officials removed a Saudi-registered Rolls-Royce from Grosvenor Square after escalating complaints about supercars left on pavements near a luxury Mayfair hotel. The council said the tow marked part of a broader effort to curb illegal parking tied to guests at the Chancery Rosewood, which occupies the former U.S. Embassy site.
Residents had reported high-end vehicles routinely stopping on walkways outside the hotel, despite penalties issued by the city. According to the council, standard enforcement has done little to deter drivers, especially when fines are directed at foreign-registered cars. Vehicles from European nations can typically be pursued through established channels, but authorities say cars arriving from other regions pose a greater challenge, making cost recovery unlikely.
The blue Rolls-Royce was lifted by a relocation truck and moved several streets away. Other supercars parked on the footway were driven off voluntarily earlier in the day after staff alerted their owners. The council said the pattern of behavior has persisted despite repeated attempts to address it.
Officials noted that many of the vehicles involved are owned by visitors whose wealth makes penalties less meaningful. That dynamic, they said, has pushed the council to escalate enforcement to maintain safe pedestrian access. Local leaders argue that residents and visitors should not have to navigate around luxury cars obstructing walkways in one of London’s busiest districts.
The Chancery Rosewood was contacted for comment but had not responded at the time the information was published. The council maintains it will continue targeted relocations as needed to keep pavements clear and discourage illegal parking, aiming to ensure the rules apply evenly—whether the vehicle involved is a rental bike or a six-figure supercar.
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