Didn't want to pay for parking - went home.

Fire_Fox

They are probably trying to cover their costs of having parking wardens, a couple of years ago councils got dumped with extra responsibilities with traffic and noise that used to be carried out by the police. Many cities are also trying to discourage people driving into city centres and clogging up all the bus routes. My street used to be gridlocked regularly but that has improved with cameras and automatic ticketing to enforce the traffic management scheme.

I don't see how it is greedy, the council don't get to keep the money it just makes council tax slightly cheaper for all (including those of us who don't drive).

Pollution in city centres is a problem even outside London, my windows get black from the buses biodiesel.

pollypenny

Our town charges parking fees. Of course, the council then complain that shops are suffering from the nearby retail park.

Somehow they don't see the problem as anything to do with their fees.

butler_helen

You can park in the oracle for £3.50ish 6pm- late or there are many side areas (mine included) which are free if you don't mind a 15 minute walk.

During the day the charges are extortionate though!

Kite2010

pollypenny wrote: »

Our town charges parking fees. Of course, the council then complain that shops are suffering from the nearby retail park.

Somehow they don't see the problem as anything to do with their fees.

Indeed, its the same where I live, the council are adding 10p an hour onto parking, they can't seem to work out that its pushing shoppers to the out of town shops or even to other towns where there are more shops to shop at.

pawsies

McKneff wrote: »

Im with you all the way, think how much you saved by not eating out too.

York Council car park charges are horrific, luckily we have family who live just inside the City walls, but have had to park occasionally elsewhere. £12 for a few hours, but the tourists still pack in to the city.
Isnt the term 'short and curlys'

I park on Granville Terrace just outside the city walls. It's a residential area but there are loads of spaces and I've never been fined/told off. I don't think all the residents have cars.

Kite2010

As for Reading, there is a couple retail parks [and yesterday the car-parks were pretty much empty], about 5 minutes walk from the train station.

The Toys R Us car-park gives 2 hours "free". Might be worth considering if your only going to be spending 30 minutes in the town.

McKneff

paddyrg wrote: »

aka supply and demand!

They should knock that silly wall down to make space for a ring road whilst we're at it - then the tourists can get in easier too ;-)

Silly, there are two ring roads round York, an inner one and an outer one....

butler_helen

Kite2010 wrote: »

As for Reading, there is a couple retail parks [and yesterday the car-parks were pretty much empty], about 5 minutes walk from the train station.

The Toys R Us car-park gives 2 hours "free". Might be worth considering if your only going to be spending 30 minutes in the town.

True, or aldi, the range or mothercare carpark? Albeit I'm not sure on their parking times. It's about 10 mins from there to the oracle.

paddyrg

McKneff wrote: »

Silly, there are two ring roads round York, an inner one and an outer one....

Exactly - they could add a third - that wall is in the way of some prime real estate ;-)

daveyjp

OP. There is a downside to having free town and city centre parking, especially on Sundays in large cities.

You know its free, you drive into town, everyone who works in town knows it is free, they take their cars, park up early in the morning and leave the car the all day. Free parking for customers is therefore non existent.