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Reply ID 20102

More information [url="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5105418.stm"]Parking policy 'mess' criticised[/url]

Reply ID 20106

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Originally posted by Steve
The Times has an article about government plans to shake up parking regulations. One of the proposals is to ban councils from setting targets for the number of tickets issued by wardens, which won't make much difference in Hertford of course, because we all believe EHDC when they say there are no such targets [;)] [url="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2220490,00.html"]‘Fairer’ parking tickets planned[/url]

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Reply ID 20174

Source BBC: Commons Committee " ... called for a "scale" of penalties relating to the "seriousness" of the parking contravention". Yeah, right - but this does not mean the penalty for being 5 minutes over in Waitrose car park will reduce from £30. Guarantee that all they will do it keep these offences at £30 and make it £60 for parking on a yellow.

Reply ID 20177

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Originally posted by eelynda
Yeah, right - but this does not mean the penalty for being 5 minutes over in Waitrose car park will reduce from £30. Guarantee that all they will do it keep these offences at £30 and make it £60 for parking on a yellow.

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Reply ID 23089

I can't understand why all the fuss about parking still persists. The simple solution to it all is pay on exit. TWs cannot issue a ticket unless justified because the computerised system won't allow them to. Likewise, they have to issue a ticket if one is due for the same reason. They are incredibly closely monitored. What seems to anger everyone is the ticket which is issued when the offence is a couple of minutes. It's infuriating, but not the warden's fault. Rather than abusing the wardens, who are doing a difficult job, lobby for a system which charges according to how long you actually stay and prevents tickets for forgetfulness or cheap watches.

Reply ID 23095

Dear Shunt There have been lobbys on this issue of pay on exit parking, and the Council did a feasability study itself and concluded that it was better, fairer and more cost-effective to have pay on exit... only to completely disregard the report and put wardens in!!! They are actually "Losing" money using the wardens now and still insist on keeping them. I don't know how we can sort this out, they use our taxpayers money and we don't seem to be able to have a say that is properly heard or fairly addressed. I heard that the "powers that be" are looking into getting rid of the council entirely... Maybe there lies the answer.. That will teach em.. But seriously, what can we do, when they totally disregard everything they were elected to do!?????

Reply ID 23107

I agree, but then this household was one of many who didn't even get a polling card. Sometimes current politics makes me want to cry with anger. This is what we all want, it's obvious, so why can't we get it? If we can't even sort out parking, what chance have we of expressing an opinion on bigger issues? We all fight and bicker over trivia, but it's indicative of a general frustration. Maybe there's a drunken bunch of purple aliens up there having a laugh on a giant Gameboy. "Let's make the funny humans do this. This'll really piss them off!" Does God have an extra button marked "smite" on his keyboard that we don't?

Reply ID 23111

Your councillors should be contactable and approachable. Use them.

Reply ID 23304

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Originally posted by Ewoowar
Your councillors should be contactable and approachable. Use them.

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Reply ID 23310

I do try and stand back a bit from parking issues but following a meeting with Cllr Alexander and Head of Parking I can say that there is a full review of parking being undertaken and some amendments to the system that could allow 'meter feeding' and longer allowance for short stay to help part time shop workers. Can't say much more because it is under review and these proposald might not see the light of day. There is little likelihood of a Pay on Exit scheme being introduced throughout East Herts although one is being piloted in Stortford. The Partnership has asked for capital and revenue costings for a Pay on Exit scheme for Hertford and this is awaited. On the basis of my consultations with WPS Parking Systems of Swindon some three years ago it would cost about £80000 to convert each car park. Add in inflation mulitply by five and you are talking about £1/2 million upwards to implement this. I wrote a comprehensive report on all parking issued drawing on experiences from around the country. Many authorities esp in London were advocating a sliding scale of fines. In that motorists who overstay by minutes and cause little problems would be fined a nominal sum but those that abused the system by overparking, overstaying or obstruction would get a heavier fine. However the problem with this and on which I can see the Council's argument is that motorists would expect one minutes grace to be extended to five and half an hour to two hours and so on. The only real answer and this is the policy is that there is no period of grace. Difficult to enforce and this is what causes the antagonism between PA's and motorists. Manchester (well in the forefront of parking innovation) leaves a lot to the comon sense of the Parking Attendants. Fines have gone down along with the number of objections, they have an independant Paking Ombudsman to adjudicate on objections and the Head of Parking won the Parking Award for best City/Town etc etc. I hope this review goes ahead and can be implemented. It will not solve every gripe but will help in some areas.