Guest 667- Registered: 6 Apr 2008
- Posts: 919
The Council were happy to put the parking prices up, but I see they are not so quick to do anything about the parking machines that do not work properly or indeed do not work at all.
Castle Street:
The meter outside the old night club has not worked for months. (Right opposite the Council Office) Yet people still get a parking fine if they do not display a ticket. Just how does a visitor to the town know there is another machine 200 yards further back up Castle Street.
Stembrook Car Park:
The machine at the St Mary's Church end has not worked correctly for years and I mean years. You put coins in the machine and it takes some, others just drop through. If you have just the right amount of change you can stand there for ever while you keep trying to get the dam thing to take your money.
If the Council can take the extra money for parking why can they not supply parking machines that work. A fault for a day or so is one thing but when it's for months and years and people get parking fines for it, then it's not a joke.
Oh and if in this year of 2008 when technology is so high, could we not get parking machines that give change or the correct amount of time for the full amount of money paid.
My points exactly - well put.
Guest 670- Registered: 23 Apr 2008
- Posts: 573
My wife got a ticket in the car park in Priory Road.
She went straight round to the car park office and explained to them the machine would not accept her money and was not working properly.
The response she received, was that she must NOT go to the office but should write in.
Needless to say my Wife told them what to do with their parking machines, a physical impossibility and has never shopped in Dover since.
Even if she had written in there would have been a dismissive response. Jobsworths and dictators are in charge!!!
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
I think that the Council are stealing money by not providing machines that give change.There is no other word for it.
I only wish I had the time and resources to take this point before the European Courts.It cannot be morally justified.
I have always loved that scene from the movie'Cat on a hot tin roof' where Paul Newman systematically goes along a row of parking meters and using a pair of industrial tube cutters calmly chops the head off each meter.A classic and sums up my feelings exactly.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
The Parking Services Manager is not a jobsworth; she will look at each case submitted and will determine each case fairly.
I do agree about the parking charges and the damage it is doing businesses; but at the same time point out the need to raise revenue and parking charges are the easiest route.
Fairness - on costs, on change (much revenue is raised because no change is given) and on time, should be the order of the day.
There is much I would love to say but won't.
Roger
Go on....let yourself go!
Fairness is off the radar with these parking charges, particularly in terms of appeals and justifications. I am still smarting about my own charge, while visiting a vulnerable elder as a matter of urgency and finding the machine for tickets broken, not knowing where the nearest one was, and leaving a note in the windscreen explaining all of the above.
Guest 667- Registered: 6 Apr 2008
- Posts: 919
Roger.
So if it is revenue, then some of that revenue should be used to fit new machines that work and give change.
Where else would you get done over like this? If the charge is 90p an hour and you only have a £1 coin then 10p change should be given or the extra time to cover the extra payment.
Machines that have not worked for months and others that have not worked correctly for years is a disgrace. If people then get parking fines because of these machines not working, then that is more than a disgrace it is day light robbery.
I will say most of Dover's parking charges are reasonable compared with towns like Folkestone who charge much more, but it is only a fair charge if you are not being conned along with it.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I completely agree Harry - on all your points.
The only bit I don't agree is where you say the charges are reasonable - not to the businesses and shoppers they aren't.
Folkestone has a new shopping centre and Debenham's; Canterbury, is, well Canterbury, with all their shops - and they have and a Park and Ride for £2.50 for ALL day shopping; Westwood Cross is FREE parking and Ashford, whether you go to MacArthur Glen or the Town Centre, they have much better shops than Dover, so can afford to pay more than us.
We should not have started the increases until we have a new Town Centre - every independant business in Dover is suffering - ask 'em.
Roger
Guest 667- Registered: 6 Apr 2008
- Posts: 919
Yes Canterbury Park & Ride is good as to it staying at £2.50 when they change Companies is another thing.
Folkestone shopping centre is £2.40 for two hours if I remember correctly, which you get back if you use Asda, George etc. not sure about other shops, I think you have to use these two to get it refunded.
However Folkestone's normal town car parks are a lot more than Dover; try the ones around the Leas. I think it was around £1.80 to £2 for an hour.
Oh yes and I saw a Disabled person (Yes they were disabled) come back to their car in the Leas Cliff Hall car park in Folkestone to find a parking ticket for parking in the bay next to the Disabled bays. The old chap who could just about stand up, said to me "the Bl**dy disabled bays were full so what's my badge for". Ok some would say that's the way it should be but I thought that was harsh when I have seen that in Dover car parks and they do not get a ticket.
Whay I am saying is Dover is not all bad but they do have a dam long way to go with parking meters etc to be fair. What ever the charge the meters should work correctly and give change just like any other cash machine.
In my part of Ireland, people with badges noting that they are disabled are able to park anywhere (within safety reasons!!), so would never get a ticket for parking in a bay other than disabled and not buying a ticket, even if the disabled bays were available. And Ireland is a country that is very cash-conscious!!!!!!
Guest 648- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 258
We are having Linear charging.I dont drive so hs this not come in yet.I fyou put £1 in you get the extra minute over the hours parking.You may know this Roger that was the whole idea I said at the time in Tenderten It was much cheaper than DoverWhere is Nigel these days ???
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
So Roger and Sue did you vote for the parking rises or against,I can't remember you voting with us against these BIG rises,I know the Labour Group have given the Tories a hard time on Parking Issues and we will continue to do so,remember I don't drive either,well I do but the Council don't charge to park a bike......oh what have I said now!
When the Parking charges issues calms down a bit watch out for the new thing,public Toilets,does anyone want to buy one?and of course the issue of closing Sheltered housing and closing the Careline will continue to run,not a good time to be in charge
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 648- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 258
I did not vote for the extended hours.I could see we needed money so relucantly went with the increases I wanted to see more toilets kept open and in some cases refurbished .I cant believe people who want to close toilets Im mounting a campaign to get them reopened in Russell gardens A beautiful tourist attraction which families love.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
confused me there sue.
you did not vote for the extended hours but reluctantly went with the increases.
i suppose that you did not vote for taking seats away in town, but reluctantly went along with reducing their numbers.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
confused me there sue.
you did not vote for the extended hours but reluctantly went with the increases.
i suppose that you did not vote for taking seats away in town, but reluctantly went along with reducing their numbers.
Indeed.
Guest 648- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 258
read it again What I said i did not vote for the extended hours .You now have to pay up until 6.00pm.Which I thought unfair.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
sue
read again about the seating for the infirm and elderly.
i will leave the issue to your conscience.
