Parking in the Town Centre

[Pete]

Yes, that old chesnut...

Just saw this in the DT - well worth a read:

"Alan Taylor was slapped with the £70 penalty when he parked outside Revenues Hall in Chesterfield town centre.
The borough council claimed Mr Taylor breached signs which state ‘controlled zone, no parking beyond this point’ – but an adjudicator has questioned the suitability of the signage and thrown out the fine.

In his decision report, adjudicator Roy Rowley explained: “The signs and the absence of any surface markings are confusing and ambiguous.

“The ‘controlled zone’ sign does not signify a restricted area in this off-street car park.

“I am unable to find that the contravention occurred as alleged and the council shall not be entitled to enforce this penalty"

http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/local/parking_fine_overturned_1_4116773

[Gerty Gumdrop]

Yesterday, stupid me parked on the Donut for quickness just because I wanted to nip across to The Party Shop to collect something.  I hardly ever park there and didn't realise that the fee was £2.10 and machine didn't give change.  So not only did it cost 60p more than the multi storey, I ended up paying £3 (no change) for parking there for less than 10 mins.

A mistake I won't make again. 

[Stuart]

It would be interesting to know how much more money is taken from us (over and above the cost of parking in the first place) by these machines not giving change. To me, they are taking money for a service that they're not providing.

[~Aitch~]

Sorry to rub salt in, Gert, but if you'd parked in the multi storey after 3 o'clock, (Mondays & Tuesdays only)  it wouldn't have cost you anything. 

[k4blades]

The are robbing bar-stewards for not giving change...I've been caught out a couple of times lately with that too. Also, donut is confusing as some is short stay, some long stay, you have to know which you are in and your bay number.......none of which you are aware of until you've got out of the car, ran to the signs and stood reading it in the pouring rain with kids screaming, before having to run back again to check where you are.

[Slacker]

Free for 2 hours in the Ravenside, 1 hour Hollis Lane. 60p short stay in some council car parks

[Gerty Gumdrop]

Well, I've taken on board everyone's comments from their experiences.  From now on I'll plan things better and be very choosy.   

[therealjr]

Free for 2 hours in the Ravenside, 1 hour Hollis Lane. 60p short stay in some council car parks

and free for councillors who get a pass to use the Town Centre car parks (yeah I know you only use it when on council business!!!!)

[Stuart]

Here's a peculiar one - word is that the street parking on Corporation St is going to become pay & display. Thing is, one bay is reserved for the disabled and two others are apparently to go to the creation of a "loading bay" for deliveries to the businesses on that street. That'd leave the three spaces further down, outside Arthur's Graveyard, or whatever it is called, unless more spaces are to be marked out against the by-pass wall. Can anyone make an educated guess about how much it costs to install all the gubbins for all this? I can't see the thing paying for itself, really.

[Fly]

You can't usually park anywhere down there, it's full of private hire cars 

[therealjr]

Just done some research for another post and I'd completely forgotten that a certain candidate for election had assured us that parking charges would be fairer under a Labour council.
Anyone seen any evidence of it?

[Slacker]

The free evening parking for late night opening days prior to Christmas was a start; extending this is being costed up for the new financial year.

[k4blades]

Good. If that applies to the donut, it should be advertised more prominently on the site.

[therealjr]

The free evening parking for late night opening days prior to Christmas was a start; extending this is being costed up for the new financial year.

How was that 'fair'? It wasn't fair to those people who don't wish to be in the town centre late at night, it wasn't fair for those of us who have to work evenings, it wasn't fair for those visiting the Pomegranate and the Winding Wheel on evenings other than the late night shopping ones?

[Slacker]

If it extends to other evenings it will suit theatre goers