Topic ID 1595
Earlier today - the Mercury Bus was out, playing Music, celebrating the World Cup. People enjoying themselves in the Sun UNTIL - a Parking Attendant appears, calls for back up and then declares the ticketing of said Bus. OK - the fun stops here. Apparently they did have permission. Have digital about person, sure my pic's won;t be as good as their's though. OK guys' let's not enjoy the season and have fun. Their lives must be Party Party Party [:(]
Reply ID 19568
Probably revenge for the article on page 3 of todays Mercury !!!!!!!!
Reply ID 19572
All my fault I'm afraid. I didn't check with Highways. On the other hand I never have for fire engines, police vehicles, East Herts Community caravans and Uncle Tom Cobbly's Travelling Fair. So I said 'OK' but then asked why no one tells me when road works are due to start (or finish) or why all the traders in town ask me what is going on and i have to answer on behalf of highways. Call it a one all draw. Now possibly not co-incidentally a traffic warden appears and slaps a ticket on the bus. Highays tell me that even if the bus had permission they would still get a ticket because that is within the remit of Parking Services. All I was looking for was a bit of promotion for the town. The Mercury get a bit of PR, play a bit of easy listening music in the sun, any trader in town who wanted a free plug got it (the Big Issue sold out!!) and everyone's happy. No one complains - apart from Highways. So, guess what story will make the front page next week.[:D]
Reply ID 19573
John. you are totally right - promotion for the trader, people enjoying the atmosphere, didn't exactly cause an obstruction - no problem to 99.9%. Rayond is apparently attending the Birth of his baby I spoke to a nice lady - Alice, I think. I've got piccies but I'm sure someone will have better ones. The Big Issue Seller was in a prime spot - good luck to him - they'll get him for obstruction next [}:)]
Reply ID 19576
I'm going to be a kiljoy here, ... but if the Mercury Bus was a little less 'in your face', I'm sure the Highways and wardens would be a little more tolerant of it. To be honest, I'm not too keen on the loud music and brash appearance (especially when it arrives on 'Dickension' nights .. looks and sounds very out of place etc..) I suggest they sell it and buy an old vintage car. This would be much easier on the eye and wouldn't offend older folk such as myself.,, It would give the Mercury a much better image.
Reply ID 19585
quote:Were you there, did you see it - then say who is the killjoy
Originally posted by azzza
I'm going to be a kiljoy here, ... but if the Mercury Bus was a little less 'in your face', I'm sure the Highways and wardens would be a little more tolerant of it. To be honest, I'm not too keen on the loud music and brash appearance (especially when it arrives on 'Dickension' nights .. looks and sounds very out of place etc..) I suggest they sell it and buy an old vintage car. This would be much easier on the eye and wouldn't offend older folk such as myself.,, It would give the Mercury a much better image.
Reply ID 19586
quote:Can you post the pics somewhere for us Tigger? I like to think I get my news here first!
Originally posted by Tigger
John. you are totally right - promotion for the trader, people enjoying the atmosphere, didn't exactly cause an obstruction - no problem to 99.9%. Rayond is apparently attending the Birth of his baby I spoke to a nice lady - Alice, I think. I've got piccies but I'm sure someone will have better ones. The Big Issue Seller was in a prime spot - good luck to him - they'll get him for obstruction next [}:)]
Reply ID 19595
Do you mean revenge for this story? [url="http://www.herts-essex-news.co.uk/news/mercury/hertfordshire_mercury/2006/06/09/council%20u-turn%20as%20we%20reveal%20wardens%20have%20ticket%20targets.lpf"]Council U-turn as we reveal wardens have ticket targets[/url] How much of a bonus do they get for ticketing the Mercury Bus then?? That explains why the wardens stay close to the centre of town and try to ticket as many people as possible
Reply ID 19596
If it is true then that's outrageous. Surely if Traffic Wardens are effective as a deterrent - then they should not have to give out any penalty charge notices because everybody would be abiding by the rules!
Reply ID 19599
quote:It could be revenge for just about ANY story The Mercury feature about EHDC. They never miss a chance to have a go, quite rightly I might add. Here's another from this week: [url="http://www.herts-essex-news.co.uk/news/mercury/hertfordshire_mercury/2006/06/09/council%20u-turn%20as%20we%20reveal%20wardens%20have%20ticket%20targets.lpf"]Council Bin[/url]
Originally posted by jez_p
Do you mean revenge for this story? [url="http://www.herts-essex-news.co.uk/news/mercury/hertfordshire_mercury/2006/06/09/council%20u-turn%20as%20we%20reveal%20wardens%20have%20ticket%20targets.lpf"]Council U-turn as we reveal wardens have ticket targets[/url]
Reply ID 19601
Pictures can be viewed at http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/3176264
Reply ID 19602
Why do they waste their time in the town? They could easily make their quota before lunch every day at Fleming Crescent.
Reply ID 19606
quote:Here here! And at the end of Tudor Way with the double yellow lines. It is too far for them to walk up the hill from town though.
Originally posted by JohnSmith
Why do they waste their time in the town? They could easily make their quota before lunch every day at Fleming Crescent.
Reply ID 19643
quote:Couldn't agree more!!! The music was far too loud - something which would not be tolerated coming from any other premises or individual that's for sure.
Originally posted by azzza
I'm going to be a kiljoy here, ... but if the Mercury Bus was a little less 'in your face', I'm sure the Highways and wardens would be a little more tolerant of it. To be honest, I'm not too keen on the loud music and brash appearance.....
Reply ID 19771
East Herts District Council have today issued the following press release: East Herts Council has shown a local newspaper group the red card for illegally parking its promotional bus on a pedestrianised street in Hertford town centre. A £30 penalty to the Hertfordshire Mercury’s publishers is being upheld and a ‘play fair’ challenge thrown down to boot; pay up and we’ll match the amount with a £30 donation to the East Herts Council Chairman’s chosen charity, the Isabel Hospice. East Herts Council hopes its offer of a goodwill gesture will result in a win-win result. Malcolm Alexander, Executive Member for parking, said: “The penalty charge notice (PCN) was correctly issued by a parking attendant - surely the Mercury’s publishers do not expect to be treated differently than any other motorist parking illegally in East Herts? “Dismissing the PCN could have been viewed by some as the council buckling under the power of the press or an own goal. Instead, we believe we have potentially pulled off an impressive draw – and the real winner at the final whistle could well be the Isabel Hospice.” The Mercury’s ‘appeal’ to the referee – the Parking Office – centres around whether permission was gained in advance to park in Railway Street last Friday. The paper claims it got permission from the town centre manager – unfortunately he doesn’t have the power to do this as dispensation must be sought from East Herts Council’s Parking Office. The Mercury’s publishers can’t even cry foul play: last November they successfully applied for permission to park the promotional bus in Hertford town centre for Children in Need using the correct channels. But in a spirit of community partnership, East Herts Council has agreed to match the £30 penalty with a donation to Chairman Cllr Allen Burlton’s chosen charity Isabel Hospice as soon as the Mercury’s cheque has cleared. Hertford town centre manager John Barber said the partnership was also prepared to pay £30 to the charity in recognition of the error - if the PCN is paid.
Reply ID 19773
Seems a very fair and reasonable solution to me [:)]
Reply ID 19776
So how come the Mercury Bus gets a ticket but all the Taxi Drivers that park there don't?
Reply ID 19778
Surley this sets a precedent in law doesn't it? .... are there any lawyers reading this that could maybe challenge the parking policy in East Herts?
Reply ID 19779
Good point, JezP. When I asked East Herts Council why they let their licensed taxis park in a pedestrian area, they said it was a police matter as EHC only have power to enforce parking regs and were in fact powerless to stop the taxis - whom they grant licences to - parking all over Bircherley Green and the pedestrinised bit shown in Tigger's photos.
Reply ID 19780
nothing to do with the fact that the council makes money from the cabs but not from the mecury bus
Reply ID 19813
So if the Mercury Bus had parked in Bircherley Green then it would have been OK?