Topic ID 7486
Delighted to discover one hour's free parking in the main car park in Sawbridgeworth this morning. If Sawbridgeworth is blessed with this (it's EHDC) then why isn't Hertford? Same machines - similar sized car park - same local authority... ps apologies for starting another car park thread, but we haven't had one for a while, have we?[:p]
Reply ID 96723
I believe it's funded by the Town Council, not DC. It's also free all day on Saturday.
Reply ID 96724
Reply ID 96728
Sawston's main car park also has free parking. Maybe any town with "Saw" in the title? Cutting edge idea!
Reply ID 96736
Hartham car park used to be free until Sainsbury's opened at the weekends.
Reply ID 96738
quote:Which Hartham car park are you referring to? As far as I know both always charged on Saturdays and Sundays are still free.
Originally posted by Bubbaoshea
Hartham car park used to be free until Sainsbury's opened at the weekends.
Reply ID 96740
quote:sorry Steve but: what?
Originally posted by Stevequote:Which Hartham car park are you referring to? As far as I know both always charged on Saturdays and Sundays are still free.
Originally posted by Bubbaoshea
Hartham car park used to be free until Sainsbury's opened at the weekends.
Reply ID 96742
quote:I'm at a loss how to answer a one word question "what?". Are you saying that something was unclear in my comment?
Originally posted by Mrs T
sorry Steve but: what?
Reply ID 96743
Last sentence makes no sense have you missed something out?
Reply ID 96744
"As far as I know both always charged on Saturdays and Sundays are still free." Perhaps a comma, after 'Saturdays' might clarify, but I thought it was pretty clear all the same.
Reply ID 96745
Let me rephrase. Both Hartham car parks always applied a charge on Saturdays. On Sunday they've always been free.
Reply ID 96746
Steve I believe that the Hartham car parks were free on Saturdays for a while? The charge was re-introduced when Sainsbury's were imminent. I pass the Old London Road car park most Saturdays and there's only a handful of cars - I really can't see why they don't make this free on Saturdays to ease the traffic/parking issues in the town and hopefully attract more people into the shops. http://www.hertford.net/yoursay/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=5215
Reply ID 96747
quote:Great thank you. I always thought that was the case too.
Originally posted by Steve
Let me rephrase. Both Hartham car parks always applied a charge on Saturdays. On Sunday they've always been free.
Reply ID 96748
quote:I stand corrected, although it should be said that the withdrawal of free Saturday parking occurred two years before Sainsbury's opened. The post you've linked to is from April 2010. Sainsbury's didn't open until June 2012.
Originally posted by Golden
Steve I believe that the Hartham car parks were free on Saturdays for a while? The charge was re-introduced when Sainsbury's were imminent. http://www.hertford.net/yoursay/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=5215
quote:Quite simply, money. If they make it free, people will use it instead of paying to park in the town centre, meaning a loss of revenue for the District Council.
Originally posted by Golden
I really can't see why they don't make this free on Saturdays to ease the traffic/parking issues in the town and hopefully attract more people into the shops.
Reply ID 96749
OK Sainsbury's wasn't open then but its arrival was apparently 'imminent' for about two years before it did finally open[:D] And with respect to losing revenue surely this is the same argument put forward for Sawbo - so back to the original post and why are they blessed with free parking?
Reply ID 96750
A busier town centre doesn't financially benefit the town or district councils' coffers. Business rates are collected nationally and distributed by central government. Increased turnover may increase VAT receipts and higher profits may increase income and corporation tax but none of that money comes directly back to the council. Parking charges do directly benefit local council income. The loss of revenue due to "giving away" parking by making it free, would have to be made up by higher council tax. Free parking is effectively a subsidy from thousands of local residents to benefit a few business people who may not even live locally. I say charge the max for parking and I'll take the bus or walk into town. A local levy on bars and restaurants, which in the main, cater more for out-of-towners than locals would be a revenue raiser too. Locals can pay the premium out of the savings in their council tax bills.
Reply ID 96751
quote:As mentioned above by CLB, the free parking in Sawbridgeworth has only been possible because the Town Council is making up for the District Council's losses. The Town Council are effectively paying for everyone's first hour. And just for clarity (or confusion, depoending on how you view it), Council Tax helps fund the County, District and Town Council as well as The Police. Each have their own annual budgets that feed in to your Council Tax bill every March. About 25% of the councils' budgets are funded locally, with the rest being government grants (ie from national taxation rather than local).
Originally posted by Golden
And with respect to losing revenue surely this is the same argument put forward for Sawbo - so back to the original post and why are they blessed with free parking?
Reply ID 96752
Town Council is making up for the District Council's losses. The Town Council are effectively paying for everyone's first hour. Which means that council tax payers are subsidizing local traders. How many local traders are, or can influence, local councilors?
Reply ID 96753
quote:Yes, council taxpayers are subsidising the car park (not local traders, despite the fact they may benefit). This very much depends on your politics and the role you think the councils should play. Personally I am happy for my, or any local council to have a budget to help boost the local economy.
Originally posted by Enoughofthat
Town Council is making up for the District Council's losses. The Town Council are effectively paying for everyone's first hour. Which means that council tax payers are subsidizing local traders. How many local traders are, or can influence, local councilors?
Reply ID 96754
This is a specific issue. Introducing politics is a generalisation and a distraction. Some people may form an opinion based upon a general ideological philosophy. Others make their minds up based upon the merits of the specific issue.
Reply ID 96768
Based on my observations there are a maximum of ten cars using the Old London Rd facility each Saturday therefore it should not cost the town council a fortune to compensate EHDC for their losses. I also believe that it is the role of the local councils - be it town, district or county - to help boost the local economy. The HTC has many subsidised events such as Rock at the Castle, fun days, Christmas Gala, Hertford Entrepreneurs network meetings, etc. and many appear to be well attended and bring footfall to the town and revenue to the shops which can only be good for the longer term wellbeing of the town.