Topic ID 6956
I was walking in town this afternoon and although it was fairly quiet, there seemed to be a heavy presence of parking attendants. I saw a number of cars being issued with tickets for parking on a single yellow line. They were not causing any kind of obstruction. I know that the law is the law but why is there such a heavy presence on New Years Day? All the parking in Hertford is free on bank holidays so its not even if the council is losing revenue. It all seemed very petty to me and not really in the spirit of the day. Happy New Years East Herts council!
Reply ID 91867
quote:I take it that you have just read my post in the Tamworth Road thread. We were in Ware this morning and there were lots of cars with notices on them.
Originally posted by matiandmarco
I was walking in town this afternoon and although it was fairly quiet, there seemed to be a heavy presence of parking attendants. I saw a number of cars being issued with tickets for parking on a single yellow line. They were not causing any kind of obstruction. I know that the law is the law but why is there such a heavy presence on New Years Day? All the parking in Hertford is free on bank holidays so its not even if the council is losing revenue. It all seemed very petty to me and not really in the spirit of the day. Happy New Years East Herts council!
Reply ID 91873
quote:Equally as it is free, they could have parked in one of the car parks. Living in a Parking scheme zone, I totally support them.
Originally posted by matiandmarco
I was walking in town this afternoon and although it was fairly quiet, there seemed to be a heavy presence of parking attendants. I saw a number of cars being issued with tickets for parking on a single yellow line. They were not causing any kind of obstruction. I know that the law is the law but why is there such a heavy presence on New Years Day? All the parking in Hertford is free on bank holidays so its not even if the council is losing revenue. It all seemed very petty to me and not really in the spirit of the day. Happy New Years East Herts council!
Reply ID 91875
This also happened to us on Boxing Day. We received a parking fine on Nelson Street. I was under the impression that on every bank holiday, you can park on single yellow lines. Very frustrating. Does anyone know the law on this, or is it at the discretion of the Local Authority? Thanks
Reply ID 91877
I am sure someone will correct me but I think you have to check the signs by single Yellow lines for the times that the restrictions apply as they vary. Presumably if it says weekdays and does not say bank holidays are exempt then you can't park at restricted times even on a bank holiday!
Reply ID 91878
quote:Correct. The signs are definitive. That's why the Parking Attendants photograph the sign as well as the car when issuing PCNs. http://www.parkingticket.co.uk/em.html
Originally posted by Marilyn
I am sure someone will correct me but I think you have to check the signs by single Yellow lines for the times that the restrictions apply as they vary. Presumably if it says weekdays and does not say bank holidays are exempt then you can't park at restricted times even on a bank holiday!
Reply ID 91879
Thanks Marilyn / Steve......an annoying little fine on top of the Christmas bills! [:D]
Reply ID 91881
Out of interest, I wonder if EHDC have to pay their Parking Attendants premium rates for working on Bank Holidays, and if so, is it cost effective?
Reply ID 91887
quote:The Parking Attendants don't work for EHDC
Originally posted by Arty
Out of interest, I wonder if EHDC have to pay their Parking Attendants premium rates for working on Bank Holidays, and if so, is it cost effective?
Reply ID 91890
The principle of privatising taxation raising services has an historical precedent leading to political corruption: http://timesonline.typepad.com/dons_life/2012/08/modern-tax-farming-and-the-roman-dangers-of-private-enterprise.html To support this cause, in 60 Crassus entered an electoral pact (a coalition?) with Pompey the Great and Julius Caesar: they would stick together to get Crassus's friends' tax contract revised, to get Caesar elected to the consulship and to get land found for Pompey's veteran soldiers. It is a political deal now often known as the "First Triumvirate" -- an entirely informal arrangement, but in their confidence that they could gang up privately to rig the Roman political process, it was a harbinger of the dictatorship just around the corner (as some Romans saw).
Reply ID 91891
Yet another example of policing the letter of the law, rather than the spirit of the law. Presumably the reason for the heavy presence of wardens in the town was because the car-parks were free, there was very little chance of making their targets in them. What is more interesting is that they chose to employ so many wardens on a public holiday. I am guessing that it is a nice little earner for somebody, and I doubt it will benefit the tax-payers of Hertford.
Reply ID 91892
quote:There are only two mandatory holiday dates in the year, being Christmas Day and Good Friday. The remainder can be modified by contract. So, if the attendant's contract includes NYD as a normal working day, it can be paid at standard rate.
Originally posted by Arty
Out of interest, I wonder if EHDC have to pay their Parking Attendants premium rates for working on Bank Holidays, and if so, is it cost effective?
Reply ID 91893
So I looked at East Herts council and there is no mention of any private company which manages parking [url]http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=8654[/url] It says: "East Herts Council is responsible for the management of twenty-five car parks across the district and for the enforcement of most parking controls, both in car parks and on-street. This is referred to as 'Civil Parking Enforcement' (CPE). The council also operates a number of Resident Parking schemes." Therefore I take this to mean that they are making these decisions to go hard on a bank holiday, probably for the cynical reasons stated by jez_p Unless someone else can tell me otherwise, I think a letter will be winging its way to East Herts Council pretty soon.
Reply ID 91894
quote:The Parking Attendants work for NSL, who signed a five year contract with the council in October 2011 http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=8654[/url]
Originally posted by matiandmarco
So I looked at East Herts council and there is no mention of any private company which manages parking [url]http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=8654[/url] It says: "East Herts Council is responsible for the management of twenty-five car parks across the district and for the enforcement of most parking controls, both in car parks and on-street. This is referred to as 'Civil Parking Enforcement' (CPE). The council also operates a number of Resident Parking schemes." Therefore I take this to mean that they are making these decisions to go hard on a bank holiday, probably for the cynical reasons stated by jez_p Unless someone else can tell me otherwise, I think a letter will be winging its way to East Herts Council pretty soon.
Reply ID 91896
quote:You are correct, however the client/supplier relationship is between the public and EHC, whoever they sub-contract services to, so matiandmarco's complaint would still be properly addressed to EHC. It would then be EHC's responsibility to take that up with the contractor if required.
Originally posted by Stevequote:The Parking Attendants work for NSL, who signed a five year contract with the council in October 2011 http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=8654[/url]
Originally posted by matiandmarco
So I looked at East Herts council and there is no mention of any private company which manages parking [url]http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=8654[/url] It says: "East Herts Council is responsible for the management of twenty-five car parks across the district and for the enforcement of most parking controls, both in car parks and on-street. This is referred to as 'Civil Parking Enforcement' (CPE). The council also operates a number of Resident Parking schemes." Therefore I take this to mean that they are making these decisions to go hard on a bank holiday, probably for the cynical reasons stated by jez_p Unless someone else can tell me otherwise, I think a letter will be winging its way to East Herts Council pretty soon.
Reply ID 91899
Crap parking is crap parking, whatever day of the year it is. Baffles me when people get tickets and then try to justify it. In 20 years of driving I have never received a parking ticket. I don't consider this to be somekind of amazing skill, just an ability to read signs and use common sense.
Reply ID 91906
I agree with James, I've been driving for 30 years and had 1 ticket in 1985. Never made that mistake again, assume nothing read the signs. Simples!![:D]
Reply ID 91907
Have to agree with James - it's not hard to avoid the fine if you observe the rules of the road, though I am sorry the original poster has incurred an annoying fine at a particularly expensive time of the year.
Reply ID 91910
The problem is in some towns you are allowed to park on yellow lines on bank holidays and Sundays and this was how it use to be across the whole country until some pilchard at a council realised that they could make money by catching people out on a Sunday and there are a lot of people still unaware of these new parking rules even though this has been going on for some years now. These traffic wardens cover other towns beside Hertford and it sounds like they were doing town after town, so a driver goes and parks in town on a yellow line and no traffic wardens can be seen and think they are safe then the wardens return and on go the tickets.
Reply ID 91921
Lets just say, they're not traffic wardens, they don't care about keeping traffic moving and out of the places it shouldn't be, they are revenue collecting machines, that really only are interesting in raking in as much money for their council employers as they can manage. If there is ever a traffic obstruction you can bet a traffic warden won't be around to move it on! I think we existed better when we didn't have them about 10 years ago between the changeover from police control to council. Oh ha[ppy days.. I am sorry people got caught out. I think parking issues in the town are made a lot worse by these "Traffic Wardens" and I personally think its successfully killing our town... but that's another forum post I guess!
Reply ID 91927
quote:I agree with most of your sentiments regarding the civil enforcement people. However, the town was pretty chaotic when there were no traffic wardens. IMHO, we were better off with our Police employed Traffic Wardens. They were local to the town, knew all the shopkeepers, were not just out to ticket people, and kept the traffic flowing. Furthermore, they had the authority to direct traffic, which these present people don't have. They used to help out at accidents, breakdowns, parades etc, where some sort of traffic control was needed. A sad day when they were disbanded.
Originally posted by Drama Queen
Lets just say, they're not traffic wardens, they don't care about keeping traffic moving and out of the places it shouldn't be, they are revenue collecting machines, that really only are interesting in raking in as much money for their council employers as they can manage. If there is ever a traffic obstruction you can bet a traffic warden won't be around to move it on! I think we existed better when we didn't have them about 10 years ago between the changeover from police control to council. Oh ha[ppy days.. I am sorry people got caught out. I think parking issues in the town are made a lot worse by these "Traffic Wardens" and I personally think its successfully killing our town... but that's another forum post I guess!
Reply ID 91928
quote:Indeed it was Buzz - still a few of them retrained as PCSOs so all is not lost eh? [;)]
Originally posted by buzzquote:I agree with most of your sentiments regarding the civil enforcement people. However, the town was pretty chaotic when there were no traffic wardens. IMHO, we were better off with our Police employed Traffic Wardens. They were local to the town, knew all the shopkeepers, were not just out to ticket people, and kept the traffic flowing. Furthermore, they had the authority to direct traffic, which these present people don't have. They used to help out at accidents, breakdowns, parades etc, where some sort of traffic control was needed. A sad day when they were disbanded.
Originally posted by Drama Queen
Lets just say, they're not traffic wardens, they don't care about keeping traffic moving and out of the places it shouldn't be, they are revenue collecting machines, that really only are interesting in raking in as much money for their council employers as they can manage. If there is ever a traffic obstruction you can bet a traffic warden won't be around to move it on! I think we existed better when we didn't have them about 10 years ago between the changeover from police control to council. Oh ha[ppy days.. I am sorry people got caught out. I think parking issues in the town are made a lot worse by these "Traffic Wardens" and I personally think its successfully killing our town... but that's another forum post I guess!
Reply ID 91946
quote:Really? How many in East Herts, and can you validate that?
Originally posted by Moulderquote:Indeed it was Buzz - still a few of them retrained as PCSOs so all is not lost eh? [;)]
Originally posted by buzzquote:I agree with most of your sentiments regarding the civil enforcement people. However, the town was pretty chaotic when there were no traffic wardens. IMHO, we were better off with our Police employed Traffic Wardens. They were local to the town, knew all the shopkeepers, were not just out to ticket people, and kept the traffic flowing. Furthermore, they had the authority to direct traffic, which these present people don't have. They used to help out at accidents, breakdowns, parades etc, where some sort of traffic control was needed. A sad day when they were disbanded.
Originally posted by Drama Queen
Lets just say, they're not traffic wardens, they don't care about keeping traffic moving and out of the places it shouldn't be, they are revenue collecting machines, that really only are interesting in raking in as much money for their council employers as they can manage. If there is ever a traffic obstruction you can bet a traffic warden won't be around to move it on! I think we existed better when we didn't have them about 10 years ago between the changeover from police control to council. Oh ha[ppy days.. I am sorry people got caught out. I think parking issues in the town are made a lot worse by these "Traffic Wardens" and I personally think its successfully killing our town... but that's another forum post I guess!
Reply ID 91953
quote:[:o)]
Really? How many in East Herts, and can you validate that?
Reply ID 91960
quote:Oh dear Buzz, you really don't like your leg being pulled do you?
Originally posted by buzzquote:Really? How many in East Herts, and can you validate that?
Originally posted by Moulderquote:Indeed it was Buzz - still a few of them retrained as PCSOs so all is not lost eh? [;)]
Originally posted by buzzquote:I agree with most of your sentiments regarding the civil enforcement people. However, the town was pretty chaotic when there were no traffic wardens. IMHO, we were better off with our Police employed Traffic Wardens. They were local to the town, knew all the shopkeepers, were not just out to ticket people, and kept the traffic flowing. Furthermore, they had the authority to direct traffic, which these present people don't have. They used to help out at accidents, breakdowns, parades etc, where some sort of traffic control was needed. A sad day when they were disbanded.
Originally posted by Drama Queen
Lets just say, they're not traffic wardens, they don't care about keeping traffic moving and out of the places it shouldn't be, they are revenue collecting machines, that really only are interesting in raking in as much money for their council employers as they can manage. If there is ever a traffic obstruction you can bet a traffic warden won't be around to move it on! I think we existed better when we didn't have them about 10 years ago between the changeover from police control to council. Oh ha[ppy days.. I am sorry people got caught out. I think parking issues in the town are made a lot worse by these "Traffic Wardens" and I personally think its successfully killing our town... but that's another forum post I guess!
Reply ID 91964
quote:And obviously, neither do you!
Originally posted by bigblokequote:Oh dear Buzz, you really don't like your leg being pulled do you?
Originally posted by buzzquote:Really? How many in East Herts, and can you validate that?
Originally posted by Moulderquote:Indeed it was Buzz - still a few of them retrained as PCSOs so all is not lost eh? [;)]
Originally posted by buzzquote:I agree with most of your sentiments regarding the civil enforcement people. However, the town was pretty chaotic when there were no traffic wardens. IMHO, we were better off with our Police employed Traffic Wardens. They were local to the town, knew all the shopkeepers, were not just out to ticket people, and kept the traffic flowing. Furthermore, they had the authority to direct traffic, which these present people don't have. They used to help out at accidents, breakdowns, parades etc, where some sort of traffic control was needed. A sad day when they were disbanded.
Originally posted by Drama Queen
Lets just say, they're not traffic wardens, they don't care about keeping traffic moving and out of the places it shouldn't be, they are revenue collecting machines, that really only are interesting in raking in as much money for their council employers as they can manage. If there is ever a traffic obstruction you can bet a traffic warden won't be around to move it on! I think we existed better when we didn't have them about 10 years ago between the changeover from police control to council. Oh ha[ppy days.. I am sorry people got caught out. I think parking issues in the town are made a lot worse by these "Traffic Wardens" and I personally think its successfully killing our town... but that's another forum post I guess!
Reply ID 91967
I think the moral of the story is if you don't want a parking fine don't risk parking on yellow lines at ANY time!
Reply ID 91971
[quote]Originally posted by Marilyn
I think the moral of the story is if you don't want a parking fine don't risk parking on yellow lines at ANY time!
[/quote
Indeed. Check the signs every time! I have been driving for 50 years and have never had a parking ticket!
Reply ID 91973
And just to mix things up a bit further, this from the BBC today. [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20907309[/url] However, it should be noted that the research was done by Labour, so may not be the most independent of studies.
Reply ID 91976
quote:I didn't want to say that but neither have I.....I have been driving 30 years..........except one in the multi-story when the ticket dropped off the windscreen and the rescinded that when I sent them the valid ticket.
Originally posted by buzz
[quote]Originally posted by Marilyn
I think the moral of the story is if you don't want a parking fine don't risk parking on yellow lines at ANY time! [/quote Indeed. Check the signs every time! I have been driving for 50 years and have never had a parking ticket!
Reply ID 92010
quote:[:p]
Originally posted by buzzquote:And obviously, neither do you!
Originally posted by bigblokequote:Oh dear Buzz, you really don't like your leg being pulled do you?
Originally posted by buzzquote:Really? How many in East Herts, and can you validate that?
Originally posted by Moulderquote:Indeed it was Buzz - still a few of them retrained as PCSOs so all is not lost eh? [;)]
Originally posted by buzzquote:I agree with most of your sentiments regarding the civil enforcement people. However, the town was pretty chaotic when there were no traffic wardens. IMHO, we were better off with our Police employed Traffic Wardens. They were local to the town, knew all the shopkeepers, were not just out to ticket people, and kept the traffic flowing. Furthermore, they had the authority to direct traffic, which these present people don't have. They used to help out at accidents, breakdowns, parades etc, where some sort of traffic control was needed. A sad day when they were disbanded.
Originally posted by Drama Queen
Lets just say, they're not traffic wardens, they don't care about keeping traffic moving and out of the places it shouldn't be, they are revenue collecting machines, that really only are interesting in raking in as much money for their council employers as they can manage. If there is ever a traffic obstruction you can bet a traffic warden won't be around to move it on! I think we existed better when we didn't have them about 10 years ago between the changeover from police control to council. Oh ha[ppy days.. I am sorry people got caught out. I think parking issues in the town are made a lot worse by these "Traffic Wardens" and I personally think its successfully killing our town... but that's another forum post I guess!
Reply ID 92104
Interesting- http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-2259588/How-did-Council-make-parking-fees-2011-12.html
Reply ID 92111
According to that link, E.Herts is spending more on maintaining car parks than it makes out of all charges.
Reply ID 92113
I would imagine that a huge chunk of the cost were for the refurb of Gascoyne way. I also wonder if the permit schemes are heavily subsidised and actually lose money.
Reply ID 92114
quote:Gascoyne Way refurb? The road hasn't been touched since a wall fell down outside the church.
Originally posted by Louis M
I would imagine that a huge chunk of the cost were for the refurb of Gascoyne way. I also wonder if the permit schemes are heavily subsidised and actually lose money.
Reply ID 92115
The car park was painted white etc.
Reply ID 92117
What's that got to do with Gascoyne Way?
Reply ID 92119
Think he means Gascoyne Way car park.. Not surpising though, as believe it or not, the cost of motoring has been subsidised for years. If councils are losing money on parking and can't recover it through council tax due to a freeze, then they're going to try and get their revenue from somewhere else. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/25/car-pollution-noise-accidents-eu?INTCMP=SRCH That's not the only study I've read about. Read about a similar one from a couple of years ago, but can't find the link right now.
Reply ID 92120
quote:Louis is clearly referring to the refurbishment of the Gascoyne Way multi-storey car park. http://www.hertford.net/blog/default.asp?id=832
Originally posted by James007quote:Gascoyne Way refurb? The road hasn't been touched since a wall fell down outside the church.
Originally posted by Louis M
I would imagine that a huge chunk of the cost were for the refurb of Gascoyne way. I also wonder if the permit schemes are heavily subsidised and actually lose money.
Reply ID 92121
quote:It wasn't clear. Gascoyne Way is part of the A414 running through the town.
Originally posted by Stevequote:Louis is clearly referring to the refurbishment of the Gascoyne Way multi-storey car park. http://www.hertford.net/blog/default.asp?id=832
Originally posted by James007quote:Gascoyne Way refurb? The road hasn't been touched since a wall fell down outside the church.
Originally posted by Louis M
I would imagine that a huge chunk of the cost were for the refurb of Gascoyne way. I also wonder if the permit schemes are heavily subsidised and actually lose money.
Reply ID 92124
Seeing as this whole topic is about car parking related issues I think it was actually pretty obvious to most what he meant!
Reply ID 92125
quote:Gascoyne Way is a car park. [:)]
Originally posted by Razor
Seeing as this whole topic is about car parking related issues I think it was actually pretty obvious to most what he meant!
Reply ID 92126
Hi - Really important to let your elected representative know of your unhappiness and remind them of your voting power = if they can't control when/what/where sanity prevails then they are not up to the job!!
Reply ID 92127
Out of interest does the £4.7m loss include payment to the outfit supplying the parking wardens?