Archived Topic
Topic ID 1398
02/03/2006 by alison
End of Car Park Season Tickets
East Herts Council decided at a meeting on the 22nd February to "discontinue the sale of car park season tickets".[:(!]
This is apparently to ensure "fairness and equity ....[to] allow all potential users to compete on an equal basis for the spaces that are available". Is that not how it works in Hertford anyway?
I have held a season ticket for a number of years and have always used the Gascoyne Way car park on a first come, first served basis ie. no long term slots available, pay for a short term slot and move at lunch time or whenever. (I find it so much easier to pay up front for a ticket rather than find £2.80/day)
EHC states it is "no longer willing to provide such a discount scheme for regular users when demand for spaces is so high" - not sure I understand this statement. Surely just increase the cost of a season ticket!!!
Also, a season ticket is purchased at the start of the year therefore EHC already have one payment; season ticket holder unable to park in long term as it is full - short stay ticket purchased (2nd payment); 'one-off' user parks in long stay slot and buys ticket (3rd payment).
Am I being sceptical in suggesting this is merely a move to provide more prey for the traffic wardens?[?]
0 replies
Archived Replies
Reply ID 17292
02/03/2006 by farrowandfarrow
quote:
Originally posted by alison
Am I being sceptical in suggesting this is merely a move to provide more prey for the traffic wardens?[?]
Sceptical? No. Your hypothesis sounds about right.
Bear in mind that the council has already admitted that the income from the parking fines does not cover the cost of the TW's. It is notoriously difficult to have your employment terminated - in whatever fashion - when working for public bodies.
This re-adjustment of season tickets may well be a way of looking to get more cash to cover their not insignificant financial shortfall.
Reply ID 17296
02/03/2006 by Rabbit Rabbit
quote:
Originally posted by farrowandfarrow
Bear in mind that the council has already admitted that the income from the parking fines does not cover the cost of the TW's. It is notoriously difficult to have your employment terminated - in whatever fashion - when working for public bodies.
Taking these sentences in reverse order....
I thought the TWs didn't work for the council, this was a contracted out service to the council?
To my mind it is a problem with the contract that the council has with their supplier of "TW Services Ltd". Given "enough" TWs there are only so many parking offences that can be ticketed so adding more TWs isn't going to increase income substantially. If the income doesn't cover costs then surely there are too many TWs? - ie they don't need that many and the contract should allow for more or fewer TWs as required. But as with many contracts, they are entered into in haste and the full financial model not thought through.
Reply ID 17300
02/03/2006 by alison
So hang on a minute.... if the cost of a car park season ticket doesn't cover the cost of parking and
quote:
the income from the parking fines does not cover the cost of the TW's
who on earth does the math? [:(]
quote:
But as with many contracts, they are entered into in haste and the full financial model not thought through.
I don't think it's
just contracts EHC enter into in haste - it seems a fair few of their (more recent) decisions appear to be ill-considered by the user
Reply ID 17301
02/03/2006 by SMT
quote:
Originally posted by alison
So hang on a minute.... if the cost of a car park season ticket doesn't cover the cost of parking and quote:
the income from the parking fines does not cover the cost of the TW's
who on earth does the math? [:(]
quote:
But as with many contracts, they are entered into in haste and the full financial model not thought through.
I don't think it's just contracts EHC enter into in haste - it seems a fair few of their (more recent) decisions appear to be ill-considered by the user
Such as??
Reply ID 17302
02/03/2006 by alison
most of the parking restrictions, fees and fines; interpretation/enforcement of planning legislation; in-house legal wrangling costing 'us' a fair few quid ...
enough?
Reply ID 17303
02/03/2006 by SMT
I think your comment about the enforcement of planning legislation is maybe not quite accurate, as I assume you refer to Caffe Nero. It isn't illegal for anyone to apply for planning permission retrospectively. I wish it was but it isn't. Anyway that is off topic.
I just wondered what the "fair few decisions" were. So thank you for clarifying!! [:)]
Reply ID 17346
03/03/2006 by alison
quote:
as I assume you refer to Caffe Nero
No, I wasn't specifically. As you say, off topic.
Reply ID 17918
25/03/2006 by Montgomery
Does anyone know how or where to complain to about the discontinuation of season tickets? Rather than be passed around from department to department, I'm wondering if anyone has a specific contact or email address.
Reply ID 17919
25/03/2006 by sloopjohnb
quote:
Does anyone know how or where to complain to about the discontinuation of season tickets? Rather than be passed around from department to department, I'm wondering if anyone has a specific contact or email address.
Since the departure of Paul Harris from East Herts the only name i can give with some certainty is Cllr Malcolm Alexander who is now parking guru and also i understand undertaking a full eview of parking in East Herts including pay on exit. He is also Mayor of Ware. You can email him on
[email protected]. According to him in Mercury letters, he answers every enquiry. Or to him, through East Herts Council at Wallfields
The Oficer in charge of parking is Andrew Pulham who is based in Buntingford (still). Even i do not have a direct line but use East Herts switchboard. Or write to him through Wallfields. Department used to be Direct Operations, Parking.
Until Paul's replacement is appointed it is unclear exactly who, where and what reponsibilities are held by whom.
Reply ID 17945
27/03/2006 by Montgomery
I have just had this email from Herts CC regarding my season ticket for the Port Vale Car Park:
Thank you for your email. Please be assured, resident season tickets are not being abolished. They are not even going up in price for 2006/07.
Regards
Andrew Pulham, Head of Parking Services
Good News!
Reply ID 17956
27/03/2006 by SMH
quote:
Originally posted by Montgomery
I have just had this email from Herts CC regarding my season ticket for the Port Vale Car Park:
Thank you for your email. Please be assured, resident season tickets are not being abolished. They are not even going up in price for 2006/07.
Regards
Andrew Pulham, Head of Parking Services
Good News!
And commuters / people that work in Hertford?
Reply ID 17957
27/03/2006 by Montgomery
You can call the Hertford parking office on 01992 531683, they are very helpful.
For info, the new season tickets will be available to collect from Wallfields on 31st March.
Reply ID 18084
30/03/2006 by alison
There was mention of the use of 'smart cards'. Does anyone know if this is to be introduced for Hertford workers??
Just had a response to my own question from EHDC - a card system is hopefully going to be introduced in early summer.....
13 replies