Parking

[Kendhni]

MPs have said that councils should publish annual accounts for parking to prove they are not cash cows ... story here

The question I ask is whether or not the MPs responsible for this statement have an once of intelligence .. of course they are cash cows, that is the only reason for having charged-for parking and issuing fines. To be fair much of the money is eaten up by those enforcing the rules .. basically a non-industry with non-jobs set up to fund itself.

The simple bit of evidence that proves they are cash cows is when councils try to tell us that double yellows and no parking zones are there for the safety of the public ... if that was the case then why do they allow those with blue badges to park on them ... there is no logic between those two acts.

I should add that I have no problem with no-parking zones, paid-for parking or even fines for those parking where they should not ... what I have a problem with is councils who lie through their teeth about the reasons for them and the unwarranted charges for some of the parking and the extortionate fines.

[david63]

It is something of a vicious circle. If you don't have those who enforce the rules then more would disregard the rules and thereby reduce the income for the councils.

Every council owned car park will cost money to operate it and that money has to be recouped and it should be paid for by those who use it. Whether these car parks are run/managed in the most cost effective manner is another matter.

As for Blue Badge holders parking on double yellow lines - this is something of a myth. I believe that technically they cannot but a "blind eye" will be adopted as long as the vehicle is not causing an obstruction. I know of people who have been given a fixed penalty ticket for parking on double yellow lines with a blue badge.

[Frank Manning]

If the double yellows are also painted at 90 edgs to the gutter i.e. regularly along the kerb then no one is allowed to park; blue badge, or deliveries. Fat lot of notice they take of that outside Barclays in Westbourne.

[Kendhni]

As for Blue Badge holders parking on double yellow lines - this is something of a myth. I believe that technically they cannot but a "blind eye" will be adopted as long as the vehicle is not causing an obstruction. I know of people who have been given a fixed penalty ticket for parking on double yellow lines with a blue badge.

David, there are regional variations but one I have seen for different areas includes the wording

"Badge holders may also be exempt from limits on parking times imposed on others and can park for up to three hours on single and double yellow lines so long as they are not causing an obstruction (except where there is a ban on loading or unloading or other restrictions)."

This is causing an issue in our town because, according to the council, double yellows were only painted in one area because of safety issues ... but now they are being parked on by blue badge holders .. note, I do not have an issue with blue badge holders using them, but I do have an issue with double yellows being painted all over the place to force people into 'pay-for' car parks in the name of 'safety'.

[royalprincess]

Without meaning to identify which local council it is, my local council has been found to be misusing the fees from parking and parking permits to plug their black hole in their accounts. They then spent over £50,000 in court fees trying to fight a judicial review over the cost of parking permits which rose by 120% in one year. They lost. Now every local authority is looking to avoid being accused of doing the same. About time. Motorists are not cash cows and I find it unconsionable that I have to pay to park outside my house when they won't give me planning permission to build a garage in my garden - why because there is a parking bay at the back and it would have to be removed. When I bought my house parking was not an issue until local authorities realised that they could make money from it. The High Street is dying because you can't park and there are at the last count 20 empty shops in the High Street because of this. No butcher, greengrocer or fishmonger. Plenty of cash for gold and betting shops though.

Local Authorities think they are above the law - mine has just recently introduced new recycling bins (not boxes) contrary to EU law and are failing to collect them but that is not the subject of this topic.

[Kendhni]

Roaylprincess, that seems to be the sort of intelligence we can expect from councilors ... the high street is dying, they get less business premises tax, so in their mighty intellect they put parking charges up to recoup revenue which only guarantees the total demise of the high street ... many town centres have become so bad that they are being rezoned for residential premises.