Parking stories in the News/media

MothballsWallet

Coupon-mad said:

Snakes_Belly said:

More chance for confusion and rip off when pay and display is phased out. 

I don't think in practice it will be phased out...this clashes with Government intentions.

Brighton & Hove CC have said they are getting rid of machines but they can get stuffed IMHO.

I hope Councils are forced to backtrack because this is discriminatory.  You can't prevent most of the older generation of drivers from using town centres, cinemas, beaches and other destinations.  Older people and others who don't live and breathe phones cannot be marginalised like this.

If Councils are allowed to get away with it then private firms will follow and that's just not acceptable.

My recommendation: bring this up to your councillors and MPs, referencing Zarah Sultana and the Digital Exclusion committee hearing (iirc,I can dig out thhe email if I haven't already shared it) - she has been very keen on helping the older generation who don't have phones or the internet to fight this kind of thing.

Le_Kirk

I think it is only banning the use for issuing PCNs but I will be corrected if necessary.  This is a very fair system as it means you cannot get out of the car park unless you've paid and therefore (in theory) should not be issued with a PCN.  Also, whilst the article doesn't say as much, one would hope that there are payment facilities, which take cash and cards and give change, in the area BEFORE you get to the barrier and don't have to faff about trying to find loose change down the back of the sofa!  We have had this system in use in some council car parks where I live for several years.

Coupon-mad

Yes, ANPR can be used by Councils but NOT for 'enforcement'.

It is very limited and can't be used to identify or generate PCNs but can be used to calculate time and fees and generally make the experience easier for drivers.

I suspect that 'soft touch' assistive (fair) camera use is not what is happening at the Waitrose / Runnymede set up that I posted about yesterday.  I'll do an FOI request to find out.

Grizebeck

Derek trying to make a point....

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/cars/article-12098205/A-relative-died-parked-driveway-do.html?ico=mol_mobile_home

Snakes_Belly

Coupon-mad said:

Yes, ANPR can be used by Councils but NOT for 'enforcement'.

It is very limited and can't be used to identify or generate PCNs but can be used to calculate time and fees and generally make the experience easier for drivers.

I suspect that 'soft touch' assistive (fair) camera use is not what is happening at the Waitrose / Runnymede set up that I posted about yesterday.  I'll do an FOI request to find out.

Unfortunately this is too little too late for Lichfield. Too many big players have left and there is now stiff competition from the West Midland Designer Village which is free parking with no time restrictions. 

Coupon-mad

Grizebeck said:

Derek trying to make a point....

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/cars/article-12098205/A-relative-died-parked-driveway-do.html?ico=mol_mobile_home

Yep I saw that earlier too!

Call me a cynic, but:

How convenient, a 'problem' about parking on someone's drive (if it's even true?) and then an unconnected leap to Derek whatshisface spouting about 'deterrents' (errrm...nope...this is meant to be contract law) and the BPA's meritless rhetoric about their purported 'need' for high parking charges.

Almost as if someone in PPC World could have invented this 'problem' about parking on someone's driveway, just to use the Daily Fail as a propaganda piece...

Worked, if so.  They published it all.

IMHO that's a load of bog-standard drivel from the BPA's pet lawyer right there; completely irrelevant to a real life situation of a house with a driveway which would never involve issuing a PCN and has nothing AT ALL to do with the level of private parking charges. 

95Rollers

Snakes_Belly said:

That is absolutely ridiculous for a DIY store. Someone doing a job often has to pop out a few times for bits and pieces. I don't understand B and Q's mindset. It's like the people running the business don't understand their customer base.

Thats B&Q in a nut shell! I don't waste time going in there when you have places like Tool Station, Screwfix and indpendent shops that are cheaper and give you way better service than the usual stroppy staff in B&Q who give you attitude because you they don't want to be there. And now you get a PCN for your troubles too! 

Coupon-mad

To the surprise of absolutely no-one:

Sennen Cove car park operator branded 'a scam' after holidaymaker fined despite buying ticket

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/sennen-cove-car-park-operator-8481404.amp

Guess who?  Armtrac of course...

The comments are better informed than you see in some papers, e.g.

"Armtrac again - it's about time this company was brought to task, too many people (including ourselves) have been scammed by them. I hope they are proud of themselves..."

Coupon-mad

IPC's notorious ex-clamper Excel's "outrageous scam" (Hansard 2018) at the kids' play centre Jumpin' Fun featured here the other week and now even more victims have come forward:

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/flood-complaints-siddals-road-car-8470668.amp

All it takes is one machine out of order, a second machine only taking cash and hidden from view, plus an app that keeps crashing.

KERCHIIIING for you know who...

Snakes_Belly

https://www.thestar.co.uk/business/excel-parking-ends-secret-time-rule-that-caught-out-drivers-at-berkeley-centre-in-sheffield-4164352?fbclid=IwAR31J0bqyDF96g5x5YzgIEoXDsuFntkyAVLApuIouOvlMw7Iv4AZxOwiuzI

"Mr Stringer said Excel makes it “as difficult as possible to pay” and the notice board setting out terms and conditions is a “ludicrously over-written mess.”

This car park has featured often on this forum. It would seem that the first hour is free but if staying longer you have to pay up straight away. If I have it right I don't think that you can come back and pay for the next hour.