Hope this part does not end ?

Yes the no payment parking now in force.
No longer have to wonder if you have any (the correct) change, how long you are likely to be ETC ETC
Just park up without giving it a seconds thought makes shopping, moving around the town so much easier.

 

That is wishful thinking, or to be able to pay by card at the machines. We never carry change, or in fact money really so I am forever avoiding council car parks in Stafford.

 

You can expect it to end once non essential shops are allowed to open.

 

From a FOI request -

In real money, that's a lot of real money.

If we are casting about for positives, what about this instead -


- it's much more likely.

 

I wonder how much of that went to the enforcement company though. Or do they run it themselves? Bearing in mind revenue is not profit

 

I'm waiting for the bailiffs to be out in force, when that part of lock down is over. At the moment they can't call at people's houses but I'm sure they will return with an added attack of you have got to catch up for all the payments you missed during lock down. There will be no compassion or understanding from them. Plus as soon at courts are open possession and evictions applications will increase as people have lost jobs and don't have the money to pay rent or bills.

The food bank has been so busy with new clients that have never had to use a food bank before. It's going to be a long haul to get households back to some sort of normality. If anyone has any food donations - please take them to Rising Brook Baptist church or the community organizers at county store in Mill street. Both are doing an amazing job of delivery food to those in need.

 

Indeed & of course I know that.
The point I am making is that it makes using Stafford a much easier task & as such would that not attract more business to the town (?) may even get tenants for all those empty units in the shopping areas should the rates be dropped as well.
Those wardens could be re-trained to fill all the potholes & support other staff (if there are any) cleaning all the litter I see everywhere (like along the sow river walk)
Yes of course all wishful thinking but such is life.

 

I believe the wardens more than pay for themselves with fines? I don't mind paying for parking as such, but it should be easier. Pay on entry is an immediate deterrent to me, what if I don't know how long I'll be? What if the shop doesn't have what I need and I have to then move on and pay again elsewhere? They should all be pay on exit, that way no fines are ever incurred you just pay for what you use.

In the Azores (tiny island, middle of the Atlantic) you can just download an app and start/stop at will. Costs 1c per minute regardless of where you park, free from 6pm til 8am, and if you leave the parking running it just pauses and restarts the next morning. All very easy, very civilised, and the one time I forgot to start the app I was only fined 7 euros anyway!

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, there is no need for anyone to have to pay to park in Stafford. There's ample free parking.

 

Indeed. I only pay when I am being lazy and want to park right by the place I need to shop at. E.g Wilkos.

 

That is a good point and the FOI doesn't reveal much, what about fines from those car parks, is this classed as revenue or separate?

How much is profit particularly once wardens are paid and the council do not own the waterfront car park they just manage it and pay a high premium.