Castletown Parking

[Grimlock]

Tom was only interested in his rise to power and used the scheme to obtain his goal. But anyway.

Why the hell are the permits allocated to the damn cars and not the houses??

What happens when a residents car is taken off the road and they have to get a hire car?? The passes aren't transferrable.

The council would probably repsond with "it stops residents selling on their pass to commuters".

Who cares, the council still get their money.

rediculous

 

[Andreas Rex]

I was gonna post this a while ago but it's really pissing me off now, so here y'are...

As we all know, the Castletown Residents' Parking Scheme is now in force, as was voted for by the majority of us who live in the area. In the time since the enforcement of the scheme I've had cause to employ various different tradespeople to work on my house. I've found that many tradespeople won't even bother saying they'll quote because they'll more than likely get a ticket.

They will get a ticket because it's a parking scheme; no argument there. The problem is* that I've been told by quite a few building/plumbingy-type people that they've lost business since the enforcement that they might otherwise have gone for, and if they have been round here they've been ticketed which makes them less inclined to come this way again. There should surely be something in place to allow for this occasional/emergency-use situation.

As a result of the above, residents of Castletown will start paying more for things to be done on their homes because there will be a 'what if I get a ticket' cost included in the quote. It also means that 300+ houses in Stafford will be pretty much out-of-bounds for local companies who simply can't keep trekking to-and-from Sainsbury's car park with all of their equipment.

*It should be noted that a) I don't drive and b) I don't hold a permit of any sort so I don't know the exact Ts & Cs of the scheme. I do, however, know a lot of tradespeople who have complained about the situation and a lot of people who have been charged ~£40 on top of work that's had to be done by a plumber in an emergency.

 

[Rikki]

It is an issue when working there now, luckily I've not been caught when forced to park in a residents bay yet. But I've not had any long jobs since its been in place. It would have to be considered when quoting if no temporary pass was available. It actually only needs wardens to use common sense but I know they have targets to hit that will put them of doing so.

 

[Gramaisc]

The mentality behind some of these schemes is just beyond comprehension. I have a very elderly aunt in Bristol who lives in an old folks' compound that is constantly clogged by the staff of the adjacent hospital - to avoid purchasing passes to park in their own grounds. The Council have instituted an incompetent scheme where, she, who is disabled and has never had a licence, must show proof of ownership of any vehicle that she has a pass for. She will be allowed up to two passes under those circumstances - and no others. So, meals on wheels, various carers, visitors, etc. - who cares?

We've 'done our job'.....!

 

[gilbert grape]

As I've been preached to on other threads, as well as this one - there are rules to be abided by and we must/should do so......
When this was enforced I was aware of a number of issues -
I have friends and relatives who visit me so need to let them know the score
Living here I have to put up with the new rules
To a degree you put up and shut up and "do the right thing"
You take a chance if you try to avoid or work round the situation

Therefore when it came in I got myself a permit so I could park near my home as I come & go a lot, as well as a visitors permit for anybody needing to visit, whether that be family, friends or business, thus not only considering myself, but others too.
The short term pain of the expense, although not morally agreeable, has prevented me from getting any more tickets for myself or visitors, not been talked down to by self righteous twonks on here about such situations and not had my car damaged intentionally by such like due to parking in confined areas.
The fact that this thread went for over 4 months without postings means something has worked, even if we dont like the expense etc.
PS I'm not really getting the personal comments on Tom. I'm not a Green fan etc etc but I know him well enough to see he does what he does within his beliefs and if you don't agree, just stick to your own.

 

[darben]

Andreas, your gripe is one of the reasons I'm not keen on residents parking on my side of town, as this is a big issue where ever there is residents parking permits.

If it wasn't so expensive to park in town and the public transport was better I'm sure town residents wouldn't have to deal with the displaced parking problems we encounter.

 

[henryscat]

I don't think it matters how cheap parking is, a proportion of people will always try and avoid paying by parking elsewhere. Problem parking in residential areas is generally commuters who could opt for a car park or bus season ticket at perfectly reasonable costs since both work out lots cheaper than paying daily.

 

[Trumpet]

Another problem arises when two or more children grow up and get their own vehicles.

 

[darben]

I don't think it matters how cheap parking is, a proportion of people will always try and avoid paying by parking elsewhere. Problem parking in residential areas is generally commuters who could opt for a car park or bus season ticket at perfectly reasonable costs since both work out lots cheaper than paying daily.

Have you tried using a bus recently?

Stafford is in a rural location and a lot of commuters live in villages and rural towns! Most village bus links are poor and irregular and in general it's pretty difficult to get any information.

Going town to town seems a nightmare too!

Stafford needs a couple of park & rides I'm sure they would be well used and alleviate a lot of parking problems and traffic congestion, I always opt for park & ride when it's available in other towns. Can't see why it can't be done close to each motorway junction. We are a county town albeit a small one, if Chester & shrewsbury can have park & ride why can't we?

 

[henryscat]

Have you tried using a bus recently?

Yes, travelled home on one today, as I do most days.

Stafford is in a rural location and a lot of commuters live in villages and rural towns! Most village bus links are poor and irregular and in general it's pretty difficult to get any information.

Some villages but not all. If you live in Stafford, or in places around like Gnosall, Haughton, Penkridge, Eccleshall, Stone, Little Haywood, Colwich and Milford there are sufficient buses to usefully get to work in Stafford. I disagree it's difficult to get information. Arriva for their faults do put times up at virtually every stop they serve and have a pretty good website. As I also pointed out, car parking isn't that outrageously expensive if you have a season ticket.

Going town to town seems a nightmare too!

We have buses to every conceivable town in the surrounding area and trains to most of them too.

Stafford needs a couple of park & rides I'm sure they would be well used and alleviate a lot of parking problems and traffic congestion

Park and Ride generally only works well when you have restricted / expensive (i.e. you'd have to put the price up in Stafford) town centre car parking; congested routes but where you can prioritise the bus; a town centre that attracts quite a lot of visitors.

if Chester & shrewsbury can have park & ride why can't we?

Chester and Shrewsbury are bigger towns, more congested and have more visitors.

 

[darben]

I'm Not wanting to go into minutia and throw the thread off topic . I've looked many times about going to work on the bus and I'd get the sack as I would be late, and I live near a bus stop. But we are no longer talking about Castletown parking so I am going to shut up!

 

[proactive]

yada yada yada

Oh, here we go again

 

[henryscat]

Oh, here we go again

Here we go again what? I answered a post. Don't read it if you don't like it.

 

[henryscat]

I've looked many times about going to work on the bus and I'd get the sack as I would be late, and I live near a bus stop. But we are no longer talking about Castletown parking so I am going to shut up!

The point is a lot of people (and by no means all) could choose to travel in another way... or they could choose not to park selfishly and pay for a ticket in a car park. It beats me how far away people will park from work or a station to save a few quid on parking (I know of some who will walk 15 mins from their car to work. Unfortunately when it comes to parking or just being behind the wheel, some people undergo some kind of personality transplant / common sense labotomy.

 

[proactive]

Here we go again what? I answered a post. Don't read it if you don't like it.

To semi-quote you from another thread...

You don't tell me what I read or don't read!

It is very tiresome though finding many threads in this forum hijacked by your harangues.

 

[proactive]

Don't often go into Castletown, but I had occasion this morning to walk from Palmbourne industrial estate to the station and couldn't help but notice that quite a few of the parking bays (which were empty) stated you needed a permit or you could park for 2 hours with no return for a further 2 hours. Would this not allow tradesmen to come and carry out work without fear of being ticketed? Or is this arrangement not across the whole area, in which case why-ever not?

 

[Gas Engineers]

PERMITS & TRADESMEN – Help Forum with Commonsense to the riddle of how to work at Castle Town !
Can anyone answer what tradesmen are to do in this area ? - Long Post Sorry !

Castle town Must now display a valid permit. Vehicles which do not display a valid permit or visitors’ permit risk receiving a penalty notice from one of the borough council’s civil enforcement officers.
don’t have a permit can apply for one by contacting the county council’s highways parking team on
0300 11 8000.
(wrong phone number on website should be 0300 111 8000)
http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/News/staffordshiresfirstresidentialparkingschemeunderway.aspx
Phoned today I thought it would be simple question, What do we do about a parking permit whilst working inCastleTown? This is after being given a lovely ticket by an enforcement officer whom was not interested in the fact it was an emergency call out.
Here’s the conversation:-

Council : Without a permit you can only load & unload
Us: But we have a job to do, we need our tools ?
Council: You cannot park or return within 2 hours ?
Us: So I can’t park just unload, so I’ve to carry an extra engineer who jumps out together with his tools to carry out the work & if a part is required we cannot return with it within 2 hours ?
Council: The Resident should have a Class A Permit which shows a pass for a visitor, provided the owner of the pass does not park their car in the same area
Us: But the Resident needs to allow us access to the property to carry out the work
Council: The Resident can apply for a separate visitor pass for 4 hours
Us: We’ve got to install a new boiler, it will take longer than 4 hours ?
Council: Have to move van elsewhere
Us: That’s ridiculous
Us: The customer doesn’t own a car ? They don’t have a parking permit
Council: I don’t know will have to refer it will get someone to call back

That was 10.00am this morning, still awaiting return call ! This situation is crazy what have other trades done ?
Decorators, Joiners, Electricians, fitting a carpet, windows etc etc all to be done within 4 hours ?
It wouldn’t be so bad if you could phone the council give the registration numbers to advise the vehicles will be carrying out work at property numbers for however hours or days & permission granted and officers informed, that’s sensible, now the case of a resident with water pouring through ceiling or boiler breakdown or electrics off ? As I understand it you can park after 4.30pm (not sure of this), start work after that time or have we to tell residents they will have to wait for permission from the council or just charge extra for the ticket we know we will be issued with ?
I don’t blame residents of the area the parking situation with abandoned vehicles was awful, but this has been discussed over a long period of time & somehow tradesmen working has been overlooked. If the council hasn't the answer who has ?
Open to the forum for answers please.

 

[Gramaisc]

Open to the forum for answers please.

It has taken thirty years from the start of the campaign to get to this position, I understand...

 

[Andreas Rex]

It wouldn’t be so bad if you could phone the council give the registration numbers to advise the vehicles will be carrying out work at property numbers for however hours or days & permission granted and officers informed

Spot on. I think that is precisely the way to work it out.

 

[Withnail]

^ What he said, shurely?