Does parking put you off going places?

prowla

I've found that my habits have changed over the past few years and I tend to be less inclined to go places where there are parking regimes.

Has the new-found zealousness for companies & councils milking the parking cash-cow affected where you choose to go?

Redx

yes it certainly has , plus its getting worse and no consistency either , like my local morrissons has no parking regime (never has) and works just fine , yet others close by do have them and customers regularly ask the staff about parking issues as they dont know and there is no single answer as it varies between stores

my local asda starts with PE next monday (it was smart) , so totally different times etc are on the boards

there was no carmageddon over the last 4 months of no parking company at that asda either

and one place that I never frequent now is the Peel Centre in stockport , no chance of any of those retailers getting my custom , period

warehouse

Yes it does absolutely. My lot want to visit Brighton next week and I've said no, simply because I know the parking is horrific.

Marvel1

Not at all, the only the thing affects me is the time of day I go e.g. if I wanted to visit my local B&Q I would go on a Saturday morning 7am or just after when it opens to avoid congestion rather than after work.

For clothes at a different retail park it would not matter of time.

Umkomaas

Most certainly. I avoid where I can, anywhere where a PPC is involved. Recently had the misfortune to have to use one of our country's infamous airports - no other option for my destination. The pariahs were there - and waiting.

I could see them sitting in their vans metaphorically like rabid wild dogs, drooling vile, bacteria-laden spittle that I've seen previously when resident in the Southern Hemisphere. Eyes darting here and there, ready to chase after any unsuspecting prey who will then either succumb quickly and meekly, or put up with six years of injurious aggravation and hassle.

Fortunately I was too experienced to allow them to earn any bonus from me, but even with my knowledge, I felt under pressure not to give them any chance for a 'kill'. Pity the poor naives who, in holiday mode, fall for their trap - what an ambush spot!

Ivor_Pecheque

Was "forced" into an AS site in Perranporth the other day.

Was almost a bit disappointing to not get a ticket :-(

Was looking forward to a bit of action.

The_Slithy_Tove

My local swimming pool/leisure centre has recently got CEL in. I have already contacted the local authority planning department as no planning permission/advertising consent has been sought for the signage. I am awaiting a response before lambasting the manager of said leisure centre and asking him how his due diligence (that I am sure was undertaken :-) didn't turn up CEL's aggressive tactics, especially when contracts are cancelled, the numerous complaints they will get, their useless and expensive court escapades, and so on. Trouble is, even lough it's a local authority centre, it's all run by a private company, so I am sure FOI requests will bounce back.

What's more, they allow only 2 hours. Going swimming with the children, we were barely under that by the time you've changed everyone, swam for an hour, and changed again. If we'd have stopped for a coffee and a session in the soft play, we'd have been well over. OK, there's a rigmarole to go through if you want to stay longer, but who's going to be aware of that (normal discrete signage, and only those who've been stung by a PPC before ever read the signage).

My membership will be getting cancelled shortly, and they will certainly be told why.

The_Slithy_Tove

Umkomaas wrote: »

I could see them sitting in their vans metaphorically like rabid wild dogs, drooling vile, bacteria-laden spittle that I've seen previously when resident in the Southern Hemisphere. Eyes darting here and there, ready to chase after any unsuspecting prey who will then either succumb quickly and meekly, or put up with six years of injurious aggravation and hassle.

Fortunately I was too experienced to allow them to earn any bonus from me

What was it, then? Plastic bag over the number plate? Pull up right next to the van, too close for them to photograph the car? Can of spray paint over the camera?

Umkomaas

The_Slithy_Tove wrote: »

What was it, then? Plastic bag over the number plate? Pull up right next to the van, too close for them to photograph the car? Can of spray paint over the camera?

Nope. Spotted them from a distance as I drove towards the pre-booked car park where I then parked. I was obviously in 'eyes peeled' mode but yer average Joe off on their hols would have more things on his mind than spotting predators.

Walked out of the car park towards the terminal and had to pass right by their vans. So I stopped on the double red lines in front of them and had a good stare in. Fortunately I don't have any number plates strapped to my torso!

Two in a van, sitting there all day, even in our less than sweltering temperatures, I bet the van stinks.

prowla

warehouse wrote: »

Yes it does absolutely. My lot want to visit Brighton next week and I've said no, simply because I know the parking is horrific.

I was fined a few years back in Brighton, due to the "fluttering ticket" issue.

In response to my informal appeal they acknowledged that I had bought and had a valid parking ticket but that it having fallen onto the centre console face-down (they had a photo of it there) meant it wasn't on display.

They cancelled the fine when I queried why they had failed to follow their procedure; they issued a final demand immediately on receipt of my formal appeal.

Regardless of that outcome, I consider them to have been dishonest and bureaucratic in pushing ahead with it even though they admitted in writing that I had bought a valid ticket to cover my stay.

I haven't been to Brighton since.

dazster

Wherever there is an alternative I will not shop anywhere that has a PPC infestation. A number of businesses in my area have lost my custom, and have all been told why. The only one that seemed to care was Waitrose, who pursued me for weeks, sending me vouchers and so forth (which I happily spent online with John Lewis). But for all their desperate efforts to retain my custom, the PPC is still there so I am not.

As for other sites, thankfully I rarely have cause to visit local hospitals but when I do, I have ferretted out nearby on-street parking for all of them, so that's £4 a time not going into the Trust's coffers, purely because of their PPC infestation.