Saturday, July 21, 2012
Half a £billion on car parking fines!...
After Tonbridge Blog's recent lapse into praising the council, in the interest of a balanced view, it might be worth looking at how councils across the country have now gone over the half a £billion mark for revenues raised from parking charges (yes that's right BILLION.) If you don't believe me look at this Telegraph report. In fact it might even be worse than that since this figure, if you examine the figures closer, may be the surplus after costs incurred in collecting the charges. Now, okay, Tonbridge isn't the most expensive place to park but, let's be honest, it's still high enough to put motorists off when there are other towns with more shops not that far off. Some of the charges in other towns and cities really will make your eyes water though if you read the report. I've said this before but I'll say it once more. The council should try to encourage trade into Tonbridge with free parking or, at least, not fine people for over staying. If the emphasis is not on collecting fines then why not go back to the infinitely more sensible method of paying for the time you've stayed as you're leaving. Just like nearly all car parks used to be like and many, like some in Maidstone, still are. As a trader in the town you hear time and time again from customers that they have to go because their parking ticket is running out. Off they dash without spending money in the bookshops, cafes and boutiques! Still at least it looks like we're in for some sunny weather....
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8 comments:
The words "Rip-off", and "Britain", spring to mind!
I try to avoid paying car parking charges by walking or cycling into Tonbridge, and leaving the supermarket shopping until after 6pm or Sundays, when parking is free. We all pay more than enough in Council Tax, so why give any more of one's hard earned cash to the local authority?
Well I do mostly, I cycle in. On the rare occassion that I drive into Glorious Fat Town, I park but never pay any parking fees. It's an "act". I've had dozens of parking fines, and never paid one of them. We're not talking common law here...We're talking council bi-"laws". They have no power to instigate them, and I think you'll find that if you just wait for the recorded delivery, throw it away...That's generally it.
P.S
Most councils hire private companies these days, to handle their carparks. Well they work on commission, no idea what percentage the council get at the end of each day though. I've never really understood why people just pay the fees in such an innocent, un-questioning way. Maybe it's because we're british, and we just think...Oh well..it looks official so it must be real. Just don't pay! Park your car, do your shopping, but whatever you do don't buy an illegal ticket. It's really nothing more than a profit making organization trying to screw money out of ignorance and fear. The so called fines are un-enforcable, they mean nothing.
I've been to Sevenoaks magistrates court 4 times to date, each time the case has been dismissed..
Honestly the council are wankers..Particularly the so called tmbc...
So according to the table in the article Tonbridge and Malling made a profit of £685K which was 166th highest profit in the country. Seems about right to me - a profit (we don't want to make loss do we) but a moderate one. If we lived in Brighton where they made £12 million profit or Surrey where they managed to lose £1.5 million on parking then I would be angry ....
I can only reiterate...more fool them. Just don't pay it.
Honestly, nobody has responded to this, I seem to be ignored as some kind of mad person.
Don't ever buy a parking ticket! If you get a silly plastic bag stuck to your window, peel it off, and chuck it into the nearest litter-bin..It's not even worth the paper it's typed on.
I'm offering you the chance to park for nothing from now on...Just like I've been doing for years. Why do you keep buying these worthless tickets in private carparks? I also realise that most of you dismiss me as being slightly insane, and yet I'm the one who parks for nothing, and you're the ones who just accept it and pay these illegal fees..I really don't know what else I can say to convince you..
sebfox, I think TMBC employ their own staff to patrol their car parks, rather than sub-contracting it to a private company.
I understand where you're coming from on this issue, but without actually checking out the legal situation behind whether the council are empowered or not to levy fines for the non-payment of parking fees, then I don't think I'll risk a £60 fine, and all the hassle that goes with it. I'll just carry on boycotting the car parks during those periods when fees are charged.
It's sad, but tmbc rely on people like you Paul Bailey. Just cough up without questioning anything. It's the English way.
Actually I usually cycle into town, so usually I don't take much notice of parking fees. All I'm saying that even on the rare occassion I park my car in this town, I never pay for a ticket, and I never pay for a ticket in any private carpark in this country.
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