Parking Eye run roughshot over council planning

Hot_Bring

So despite having their planning application to reduce parking at Aldi Portslade from 2 hours to 90 minutes rejected THREE times, Parking Eye are having another go.

The difference is this time that they are appealing the last rejection rather than make a fresh application. Why does that matter ? Well, with a full application the public can object and comment but with an appeal we get no representation.

For those interested ( CM ! ) here's the details - http://ww3.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=c1199915&action=showDetail&APPLICATION_NUMBER=BH2013%2F04263

Proves what scum Parking Eye really are.

bazster

What makes you think you can't object? I have objected to planning appeals in the past. The Planning Inspectorate must write to all previous commenters on the application giving them the opportunity to make representations about the appeal.

The real reason for the appeal is that the Planning Inspectorate may come to a different result than the council, and if the PI gives the go-ahead the only way to appeal that decision is by Judicial Review.

The_Deep

I am puzzled why anyone should need 2 hours to shop at Aldi, particularly this one. What is the problem?.

Hot_Bring

The_Deep wrote: »

I am puzzled why anyone should need 2 hours to shop at Aldi.

Aldi were given planning permission on the condition that free parking was given to people using other local businesses. It started at 3 hours but was reduced to 2 hours a couple of years later ( after Aldi were fined - with a real proper fine - for dropping the limit without planning permission ).

Reducing the limit again will trap people into getting PE invoices. It will also be detrimental to other local businesses. If Aldi don't like the imposed planning conditions then they shouldn't have opened a store there. Parking Eye also changed all the signs to say the car park was for Aldi customers only. They were forced to change them back after I got the council involved as neither Aldi or Parking Eye would listen to me.

bazster

IIRC this is one of those car parks where Aldi is obliged, by the terms of the original planning consent, to offer free parking to users of other local shops.

Hot_Bring

bazster wrote: »

What makes you think you can't object? I have objected to planning appeals in the past. The Planning Inspectorate must write to all previous commenters on the application giving them the opportunity to make representations about the appeal.

The real reason for the appeal is that the Planning Inspectorate may come to a different result than the council, and if the PI gives the go-ahead the only way to appeal that decision is by Judicial Review.

The challenge being is that for normal applications you can object via the planning portal. You can't for appeals. I have emailed the planning department objecting but it's ridiculous that you can't do it via the portal.

bazster

Hot_Bring wrote: »

The challenge being is that for normal applications you can object via the planning portal. You can't for appeals. I have emailed the planning department objecting but it's ridiculous that you can't do it via the portal.

You can't object via the portal because it's not the council you are submitting your objection to, it is the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol.

Hopefully the planning department will forward your emailed objection to the Planning Inspectorate, but when I objected to an appeal I dealt directly with the Planning Inspectorate (I and other objectors even got to accompany the planning inspector on his site visit).

The_Deep

Unless the need for the non Aldi parking has decreased, it can be seen that there is wholesale abuse by rail passengers, or that Aldi customers are unable to park, what possible reasons could PE have in requesting a reduction in the time?

It seems to me that this is merely a device to issue more penalties and increase their revenue.

I do not see this as a attempt to hobble council tax payers, but an opportunity to lobby Bristol by those who oppose the request.

Coupon-mad

I will be lobbying via the address of a friend/relative again as I am in West Sussex but not a million miles away from there. Old people who may want to go down to the Bank or PO to pick up their pension first, before doing their Aldi shop, have to wait at a railway crossing (both there and back of course) if they aren't nimble enough to use the steep steps of the underpass. 2 hours is comfortable but a mere 90 minutes from arrival to driving away - with a weekly shop included - would make that a task and a half for some.

PE are doing this because they have it in their contract that retailers can't stop them doing it! They have a clause that lets them tinker with the time limit and send applications to Councils to reduce parking time - and the client has no say. What idiots retailers are for not spotting that.

Northlakes

Aldi have an interesting business model where they apply for planning permission, see how the store trades and then increase the store size and cut down on the availability of parking. They then bring in a PPC to increase the throughput of the car park and they believe more customers will come in.
This will only work for a while as Tesco, Sainsbury's Morrison's and Asda are already starting to fight back.
Aldi quality is good but there is little product choice compared with the big four.
Those Aldi customers who have penalised by a harsh parking regime will soon go back to one of the big four supermarkets or learn their lesson on parking and use the loss making online shopping offers from Sainsbury's, Tesco or Asda.
Supermarkets do need loyal customers but some of them do their best to destroy it by bringing in the likes of PE. Once FINED never forgotten!
p.s. apologies for the use of Fined