Parking stories in the News/media

bargepole

AnotherForumite said:

patient_dream said:

I know this one is Council parking but is just proves how the fools who run the councils are hell bent to destroy town centres

Next they will bleet to government for more money because there are no traders left ?

Wokingham Borough drivers hit with almost 20,000 tickets across Wokingham, Woodley, Earley, Twyford and other areas

https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/wokingham-borough-drivers-hit-almost-24379639?utm_source=berkshire_live_newsletter&utm_campaign=daily_newsletter2&utm_medium=email

Confirms that LA PCN rates offer zero deterrent.

But with the ever-increasing number of private PCNs issued (8.6 million per year, according to RAC figures) at mostly £100 a pop, compared with £50 for Councils, it's clear that these offer zero deterrent either.

So the amount charged is not a factor in deterring breaches of parking conditions, and when you consider that around half of Council PCNs are cancelled on appeal, and a much higher percentage of private PCNs are ruled to be unenforceable when defended in Court proceedings, it's clear that the real issue here is over-zealous issuing of PCNs by both Councils and private operators, for the most trivial or non-existent of reasons.

The parking industry likes to paint a picture of 'selfish motorists' blatantly abusing parking facilities. Whilst there are a small percentage of those, the cases which are discussed on here daily show that the vast majority are ordinary people going about their legitimate business, and getting caught out by designed-to-fail systems, silly 'rules', unrealistic time limits, impossible payment systems and so on.

There is no valid reason why private PCNs should not be capped at the same rates as Council ones, and that's what the new CoP is trying to achieve.

Trainerman

bargepole said:

AnotherForumite said:

patient_dream said:

I know this one is Council parking but is just proves how the fools who run the councils are hell bent to destroy town centres

Next they will bleet to government for more money because there are no traders left ?

Wokingham Borough drivers hit with almost 20,000 tickets across Wokingham, Woodley, Earley, Twyford and other areas

https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/wokingham-borough-drivers-hit-almost-24379639?utm_source=berkshire_live_newsletter&utm_campaign=daily_newsletter2&utm_medium=email

Confirms that LA PCN rates offer zero deterrent.

The parking industry likes to paint a picture of 'selfish motorists' blatantly abusing parking facilities. Whilst there are a small percentage of those, the cases which are discussed on here daily show that the vast majority are ordinary people going about their legitimate business, and getting caught out by designed-to-fail systems, silly 'rules', unrealistic time limits, impossible payment systems and so on.

For me, that is the crux of it. What the PPCs will not acknowledge is that the whole 'business model' depends on creating/finding reasons to write tickets. That is where the 'gravy train' is. Therefore it is open to abuse, and as we see daily, is abused all the time.

They are not actually interested in 'deterrent', IMHO just in finding ways to write tickets. This must be stopped

patient_dream

Trainerman said:

bargepole said:

AnotherForumite said:

patient_dream said:

I know this one is Council parking but is just proves how the fools who run the councils are hell bent to destroy town centres

Next they will bleet to government for more money because there are no traders left ?

Wokingham Borough drivers hit with almost 20,000 tickets across Wokingham, Woodley, Earley, Twyford and other areas

https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/wokingham-borough-drivers-hit-almost-24379639?utm_source=berkshire_live_newsletter&utm_campaign=daily_newsletter2&utm_medium=email

Confirms that LA PCN rates offer zero deterrent.

The parking industry likes to paint a picture of 'selfish motorists' blatantly abusing parking facilities. Whilst there are a small percentage of those, the cases which are discussed on here daily show that the vast majority are ordinary people going about their legitimate business, and getting caught out by designed-to-fail systems, silly 'rules', unrealistic time limits, impossible payment systems and so on.

For me, that is the crux of it. What the PPCs will not acknowledge is that the whole 'business model' depends on creating/finding reasons to write tickets. That is where the 'gravy train' is. Therefore it is open to abuse, and as we see daily, is abused all the time.

They are not actually interested in 'deterrent', IMHO just in finding ways to write tickets. This must be stopped

100% AGREE

Mr Gove must listen to the facts and NOT an industry who scam

Mr Gove should also take note of those companies who specialise in the attack of residents and their visitors where they live ?  This really is the lowest form of life

Here again is another article headed

Death of the Great British High Street: How empty stores, violence on the streets and soaring parking costs have turned once thriving town shopping areas into a shadow of their former selves

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10979633/Empty-stores-violence-soaring-parking-costs-spark-death-British-High-Street.html

Violence is hopefully where the police step in but parking costs .... applies to both councils and the private industry

Once a cowboy parking company marches into town, more shops will close.

Will Mr Gove run with a scam or will he level up. ?

Fruitcake

AnotherForumite said:

patient_dream said:

I know this one is Council parking but is just proves how the fools who run the councils are hell bent to destroy town centres

Next they will bleet to government for more money because there are no traders left ?

Wokingham Borough drivers hit with almost 20,000 tickets across Wokingham, Woodley, Earley, Twyford and other areas

https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/wokingham-borough-drivers-hit-almost-24379639?utm_source=berkshire_live_newsletter&utm_campaign=daily_newsletter2&utm_medium=email

Confirms that LA PCN rates offer zero deterrent.

On the contrary, it is exactly the opposite of what the article says in general, and council officers in particular say.

"In a report, officers at Wokingham Borough Council said: "CPE officers continue to patrol car parks which form part of the Council’s off-street account. This allows more efficient use of CEO time as patrols can visit an area to address both on and off street parking. Over the period of enforcement, the Council’s contractor has served as many PCNs(approx. 53.7%) in WBC car parks as it has for on-street car parking contraventions. This indicates that off street parking enforcement is continuing to be effective under the new contract arrangement, ensuring parking availability for a greater number of residents and visitors and full receipt of funding due from fees."

That's based on £50 charges, with a 50% discount, and foot patrols, with no ANPR scameras used.

Snakes_Belly

patient_dream said:

Trainerman said:

bargepole said:

AnotherForumite said:

patient_dream said:

I know this one is Council parking but is just proves how the fools who run the councils are hell bent to destroy town centres

Next they will bleet to government for more money because there are no traders left ?

Wokingham Borough drivers hit with almost 20,000 tickets across Wokingham, Woodley, Earley, Twyford and other areas

https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/wokingham-borough-drivers-hit-almost-24379639?utm_source=berkshire_live_newsletter&utm_campaign=daily_newsletter2&utm_medium=email

Confirms that LA PCN rates offer zero deterrent.

The parking industry likes to paint a picture of 'selfish motorists' blatantly abusing parking facilities. Whilst there are a small percentage of those, the cases which are discussed on here daily show that the vast majority are ordinary people going about their legitimate business, and getting caught out by designed-to-fail systems, silly 'rules', unrealistic time limits, impossible payment systems and so on.

For me, that is the crux of it. What the PPCs will not acknowledge is that the whole 'business model' depends on creating/finding reasons to write tickets. That is where the 'gravy train' is. Therefore it is open to abuse, and as we see daily, is abused all the time.

They are not actually interested in 'deterrent', IMHO just in finding ways to write tickets. This must be stopped

100% AGREE

Mr Gove must listen to the facts and NOT an industry who scam

Mr Gove should also take note of those companies who specialise in the attack of residents and their visitors where they live ?  This really is the lowest form of life

Here again is another article headed

Death of the Great British High Street: How empty stores, violence on the streets and soaring parking costs have turned once thriving town shopping areas into a shadow of their former selves

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10979633/Empty-stores-violence-soaring-parking-costs-spark-death-British-High-Street.html

Violence is hopefully where the police step in but parking costs .... applies to both councils and the private industry

Once a cowboy parking company marches into town, more shops will close.

Will Mr Gove run with a scam or will he level up. ?

Where the council is giving a parking permit to residents for free parking at certain times in the day and all day Sunday it seems to increase the trade in the town. There are less empty shops. 

alanjuk

Another one. 
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/bailiffs-target-nhs-nurses-slapped-7275850

fisherjim

alanjuk said:

Another one. 
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/bailiffs-target-nhs-nurses-slapped-7275850

What a terrible article littered with rubbish:

Bailiffs are demanding cash from NHS workers who have been caught parking illegally at Stoke-on-Trent's main hospital. The debt collectors have contacted staff who have failed to pay their parking fines at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.

StokeonTrentLive understands that 'hundreds' of staff are being chased by the bailiffs. It comes as staff parking charges - costing up to £758-a-year - were reinstated at the hospital last Friday for the first time in more than two years.

“The company has to give you a warning first. Once you’ve had your warning you then receive a penalty notice

patient_dream

fisherjim said:

alanjuk said:

Another one. 
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/bailiffs-target-nhs-nurses-slapped-7275850

What a terrible article littered with rubbish:

You are so right.

I wonder if they have been getting debt collector letters from DCB Limited with that stupid logo .. "Can't pay, we'll take it away" ?

In my book, whichever the company is, they are the lowest form of life attacking nurses who save lives

This is a good thread to send to Mr Gove as his government is yet again being sucked into a scam just like they were with POFA2012

Snakes_Belly

"RCN representative Rob Irving said: “A lot of our members always say that they are in a rush to get to work or can’t always follow the parking policy to find an attendant. Our advice is to find an attendant and if you are late as a result of following the parking policy, the RCN will represent you accordingly."

What about the patients is that not more important than the parking policy?  There are going to be more staff on at certain times as they have to have a changeover where staff leaving their shift update the staff starting their shift. What if important information about a patient's treatment and condition is not communicated to the staff starting their shift as a result of a nurse trying to find a place to park. This needs to be managed.

They need to prioritise front line staff when it comes down to parking spaces. Remember the breast cancer nurse who was working between hospitals so did not have a permit and was made bankrupt through PCN's? She could not leave patients who had just come around after a very mutilating operation. 

patient_dream

Snakes_Belly said:

They need to prioritise front line staff when it comes down to parking spaces. Remember the breast cancer nurse who was working between hospitals so did not have a permit and was made bankrupt through PCN's? She could not leave patients who had just come around after a very mutilating operation. 

That was disgusting .... Trouble is, Judges are just as bad with some simply not understanding even they are being scammed

The Unions for medical staff sholud get their finger out