Parking in Stafford.

joshua

Well-Known Forumite
On a sideways note, if this is adopted widely the situation will get a lot worse
Many councils are proposing to charge companies £1000 per space per year on car parks with more than 10 spaces apparently they are already doing this in Nottingham with 4 out of 10 companies passing the costs onto employees. Consider also the other thing that Nottingham council did when implementing this charge - they put down double yellows on every little bit of the roads around offices, ensuring that any parking space is definitely paid for.

Councils have a legal obligation to improve the air quality in cities.
If they don't, they will be fined. The fines will ultimately be paid by the local residents from their community charge fees. The charging for company parking spaces is part of this.

Quite clever really, set this up now under the guise of "air pollution" and "the environment" and everybody reluctantly pays but few argue because how could you be so heartless about our planet ? Meanwhile cars are getting cleaner and eventually will mostly be hybrid/electric, by the time that happens we are all so used to paying for the spaces to park while we work we forget we were paying because of the pollution coming from our tailpipes.

The revenue lost not collected from petrol and diesel tax will be made up by a tax on the vehicle when it is stood still and not getting in anyones way.

This is just another example of the Govt. looking ahead to protect the revenue streams.
 

joshua

Well-Known Forumite
It's only a matter of time before the LAs charge to park at free out-of-town retail parks. Already the LAs are now beginning to enforce employers to charge their employees to park their cars in their own privately owned staff car parks and so I see LAs charging to park at other currently 'free' places as the natural progression along from that.

They hide behind BS such as needing to meet EU air quality targets but everyone with a brain knows it's got absolutely nothing to do with that and everything to do with their drop in income from central government and things like town centre parking which is in decline as people refuse to be fleeced to park their car when they can stay at home and order from the internet. The LAs have already increased council tax to as much as they can get away with and know there would be uproar if they increased it any further so they have to find other sneaky ways to fleece people for even more money to ensure that the gravy train keeps rolling and they all keep their heads firmly in the trough.

If parking charges are introduced at shopping malls/out-of-town retail parks then that will be the death knell for 'physical' retail in the UK as we know it and there'll be no coming back from it as motorists are sick to death of being fleeced. Ordering everything online and having it delivered will become the new norm. I'll even go as far as to predict that when this happens the LAs will introduce some form of compulsory tax or charge on the delivery couriers which will be passed straight on to the customer. Rest assured the LAs will find some new way of fleecing us when we're no longer using our cars
rolleyes.gif
.
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
It's only a matter of time before the LAs charge to park at free out-of-town retail parks. Already the LAs are now beginning to enforce employers to charge their employees to park their cars in their own privately owned staff car parks and so I see LAs charging to park at other currently 'free' places as the natural progression along from that.

They hide behind BS such as needing to meet EU air quality targets but everyone with a brain knows it's got absolutely nothing to do with that and everything to do with their drop in income from central government and things like town centre parking which is in decline as people refuse to be fleeced to park their car when they can stay at home and order from the internet. The LAs have already increased council tax to as much as they can get away with and know there would be uproar if they increased it any further so they have to find other sneaky ways to fleece people for even more money to ensure that the gravy train keeps rolling and they all keep their heads firmly in the trough.

If parking charges are introduced at shopping malls/out-of-town retail parks then that will be the death knell for 'physical' retail in the UK as we know it and there'll be no coming back from it as motorists are sick to death of being fleeced. Ordering everything online and having it delivered will become the new norm. I'll even go as far as to predict that when this happens the LAs will introduce some form of compulsory tax or charge on the delivery couriers which will be passed straight on to the customer. Rest assured the LAs will find some new way of fleecing us when we're no longer using our cars
rolleyes.gif
.
Something has to pay for council services.
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
It's only a matter of time before the LAs charge to park at free out-of-town retail parks. Already the LAs are now beginning to enforce employers to charge their employees to park their cars in their own privately owned staff car parks and so I see LAs charging to park at other currently 'free' places as the natural progression along from that.

They hide behind BS such as needing to meet EU air quality targets but everyone with a brain knows it's got absolutely nothing to do with that and everything to do with their drop in income from central government and things like town centre parking which is in decline as people refuse to be fleeced to park their car when they can stay at home and order from the internet. The LAs have already increased council tax to as much as they can get away with and know there would be uproar if they increased it any further so they have to find other sneaky ways to fleece people for even more money to ensure that the gravy train keeps rolling and they all keep their heads firmly in the trough.

If parking charges are introduced at shopping malls/out-of-town retail parks then that will be the death knell for 'physical' retail in the UK as we know it and there'll be no coming back from it as motorists are sick to death of being fleeced. Ordering everything online and having it delivered will become the new norm. I'll even go as far as to predict that when this happens the LAs will introduce some form of compulsory tax or charge on the delivery couriers which will be passed straight on to the customer. Rest assured the LAs will find some new way of fleecing us when we're no longer using our cars
rolleyes.gif
.

Or people living locally could walk or cycle.

Or we could get in to the 21st century and follow the Dutch and Danish models of proper efficient clean and cheap public transport. Its incredibly easy to do with a little political will. We could then use huge swathes of tarmac currently wasted as car parks the country over for better things.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Or we could get in to the 21st century and follow the Dutch and Danish models of proper efficient clean and cheap public transport. Its incredibly easy to do with a little political will. We could then use huge swathes of tarmac currently wasted as car parks the country over for better things.
People holding their breath waiting for that sort of thing to happen in this country will severely reduce the population pressure...
 

c0tt0nt0p

Well-Known Forumite
I believe parking notices have been put up in the KFC/pizza hut car park... Memory like a sieve, as I've just returned from walking the dog there and forgot to check...
 

rudie111

Well-Known Forumite
Or people living locally could walk or cycle.

Or we could get in to the 21st century and follow the Dutch and Danish models of proper efficient clean and cheap public transport. Its incredibly easy to do with a little political will. We could then use huge swathes of tarmac currently wasted as car parks the country over for better things.

Wont happen. People will just buy online
 

Steve_b

Well-Known Forumite
Shoppers will be able to park for free in Stafford and Stone town centres this Saturday afternoon (2 February).

Stafford Borough Council has introduced the free parking offer to encourage more people to shop in both town centres to boost trade for local businesses.


Parking charges have been waived from 1pm on all [most] Stafford Borough Council car parks in the two towns - except the Riverside and Waterfront car parks in Stafford.
https://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/news/parking-pay-day-deal-help-boost-town-shopping
 
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proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
Shoppers will be able to park for free in Stafford and Stone town centres this Saturday afternoon (2 February).

Stafford Borough Council has introduced the free parking offer to encourage more people to shop in both town centres to boost trade for local businesses.


Parking charges have been waived from 1pm on all [most] Stafford Borough Council car parks in the two towns - except the Riverside and Waterfront car parks in Stafford.
https://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/news/parking-pay-day-deal-help-boost-town-shopping
How generous of them with our money.

Just think, if they didn't do that then there might not be a need to charge for on-street parking.

But then what do I know, after all my salary isn't paid by the taxpayer.

Types a grumpy bastard...
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
One can't help but feel sorry for all those council and bank staff who now have to pay for their parking...
 

c0tt0nt0p

Well-Known Forumite
One can't help but feel sorry for all those council and bank staff who now have to pay for their parking...
In respects to the council staff I'm sure they make up for it in other ways (larger than most annual leave, pension etc etc)
 
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