Friday, March 18, 2011
Free parking in West Malling!!!!
On BBC Radio Kent this morning, which is usually a drone in the background as I drive to work, they were talking about parking charges in Kent. Judging by some of the disgruntled callers it seems that people of Tonbridge are not alone in their distaste for the greed of councils when it comes to this. There also seems to be much disparity between various towns in the county, often ones which are close together, Broadstairs and Ramsgate were mentioned, where different borough councils have different ideas and nearly always different machines for charging. But what really made my ears prick up while listening to this phone-in debate was that there are different charges even within our own borough, Tonbridge and Malling. A lady from Wrotham had quite a lengthy conversation with the show's presenter and informed us that she had the choice of various different towns to shop, due to her geographical location, but her favourite was always West Malling where she gets the first two hours of her parking free, right in the town centre. Two hours is enough for most people to get the bulk of their every day shopping done, or have a coffee with friends or maybe lunch. It doesn't allow commuters to park there all day free because after the two hours are up charges come into play. I know they do the same in Paddock Wood and it's always a bonus when you go shopping there. Quite frankly I probably wouldn't bother otherwise. So you can see that free parking must be good for traders. Paddock Wood of course isn't in Tonbridge and Malling so that's just by the way. But West Malling quite clearly is (the clue's in the name!) So is it fair that they should be able to encourage shoppers into the town with this advantage over Tonbridge. If you lived half way between the two which one would you choose? No wonder West Malling has a thriving little community with a nice choice of independent shops. Surely it's rather short sighted of TMBC to just take ever more money at the parking ticket machines in. Is it time for a big rethink on parking charges in Tonbridge before yet more shops decide to put down their shutters for the last time?...
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5 comments:
I suppose Tonbridge council have to pay for all those nice shiny carpark vans somehow, along with the wages of the nice shiny carpark enforcement people, or whatever the hell they call themselves these days.
Most people who drive into Tonbridge use the Sainsburys carpark, or one of the other supermarkets, since you can get your money back on your ticket. Unfortunately this means the majority do all their shopping there to, largely ignoring the high street.
West Malling is a nice little town to shop; you can get anything there that you can get in Tonbridge, shopping wise, so I agree with you, there needs to be a rethink here.
Driving to work?? Shouldn't you be jogging?
Yes, too right - what's good for the goose should be good for the gander. Surely if both towns are under the same council both should benefit from free parking. Me thinks the big boy supermarkets are calling the shots here and thereby ruining independent trade in Tonbridge. The council should be supporting a variety of traders into what is a lovely high street.
Yes and one more thing: I realise people might find this hard to believe, but I heard rumours of a huge technological breakthrough which took place a while ago now. Its called: A MACHINE THAT GIVES CHANGE!!!! Maybe the council don't know about them yet...Surely they wouldn't install machines that don't give change deliberately, in order to screw yet more cash out of us would they?
I just wonder how many people just stick a pound in the things because they haven't got enough change...I know I've done it myself...
TMBC have come up with a new scheme for Parking. You register and then use your mobile to pay to park. You would think that you pay by the min for this but no you have to enter the duration and text again when you leave or text to extend. I dont know what happens if your battery goes flat and you dont report that you are leaving.
Whats the catch? You have to pay the service provider www.parkmobile.co.uk 20p per park and another 20p if you would like a reminder sent when your time is up.
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