A 20-YEAR struggle to stop the pedicabs industry turning the West End into the “wild west” had yet another set-back after a transport minister pulled the plug on planned legislation.

Transport for London and the city council have been trying to clamp down on bad behaviour by the battery-powered rickshaw drivers often criticised as noisy and unruly.

There have also been reports of the public being ripped off by the riders charging vast sums for short trips around the West End.

But successive council leaders and MPs have tried and failed to regulate the industry over two decades, until last August when the former transport secretary Grant Shapps celebrated an “overdue” campaign win for Nickie Aiken MP.

He promised the transport bill would become law later that year, and said: “Every corner, everywhere I turn, there was Nickie campaigning for pedicab legislation. It’s long overdue… This will bring it under control. Well done on getting it done.”

But the breakthrough appears to be nothing more than another false dawn following the latest U-turn by transport secretary Mark Harper.

Westminster City Council leader Adam Hug

Westminster City Council leader Adam Hug, who has vowed to stop pedicabs’ nuisance, sent a letter to Mr Harper this week questioning the motives behind the decision and saying the bill was due to address “some of the most disruptive issues for our residents”.

He wrote: “Without these steps, our residents, businesses, and visitors now continue to face anti-social be­haviour, reckless driving, harassment, and blaring music that comes with the wild west of unregulated pedicabs, with no end in sight.”

The bill was also due to clamp down on e-bike companies that cause disruption and improve regulation of how they should be parked.

Cllr Hug said the lost bill was due to help authorities act on reports of “countless bikes left on our footways – forcing disabled people and pedestrians to walk in busy roads”.

He suggested new powers to allow a parking ticket-style system to catch drivers, idling in cars, also needed to be brought in.

Last Nov­ember three pedicab operators were fined in City of London Magistrates’ Court for charges under the Control of Pollution Act 1974.

A total of £3,564 in fines, costs, and victim surcharges were handed down.

The government has said it will consider a new version of the transport bill in the final year of this parliament session.

In May last year Ms Aiken, the Conservative MP for Cities of London and Westminster, said: “Together, we have achieved this victory. I will continue to take your comments to the heart of government and ensure they are reflected in the licensing regime.”

Ms Aiken said this week “we do need legislation that covers e-bikes, e-scooters and pedicabs”, adding that she was pressing ministers to find out when the new bill would be tabled.

The Department for Transport said: “We appreciate concerns around e-cycle parking and local authorities are responsible for liaising with operators to ensure pavements remain clear where possible.

“Legislation on the future of transport will be taken forward when parliamentary time allows.”