Car park charges
 

At the Cabinet meeting on 13th July, the hoary old chestnut of car parking charges was once again brought up in a somewhat tenuous way by Cllr Britcliffe who used several arguments to intimate that Labour are preparing a back door to bring in this policy across Hyndburn.

The Leader of the Council stated categorically that Labour will not introduce car parking charges in this borough at any time, nor will it be selling off the covenant which prevents The Arndale Centre from charging shoppers to park and Peter Britcliffe congratulated himself on managing to pin down Miles Parkinson to an answer that has already been given publicly several times over the years.

This tired old piece of Conservative propoganda has been doing the rounds since 1999 following an off the cuff remark by George Slynn, something that has never seriously been considered or taken further as an idea. If that's the best they can keep trotting out against the new administration then it shows a remarkable lack of ideas. Miles has publicly given a definitive line when asked if Labour can guarantee that no charges will be introduced for parking, something which will be minuted for all time.

I wonder if that will be the end of the scaremongering or whether Cllr Britcliffe cannot take 'yes' for an answer and it will once again appear on Conservative election literature in the coming years?

I commend this thread for the Accyweb archivist to remind us of next May.....

Re: Car park charges
 

Thanks for your help, but there was really no need.

It's been stored at the archive facility between 'Calendars', and 'Pensioners' pre-election seaside special'.

:D

Re: Car park charges
 

Speaking of which, be a sport and show us your calendar's behind.

I know you said you'd limit scans to one per year but those of us who don't love within the Oswaldtwistle city limits are being deprived of Toby Jug Monthly (Jul-Dec 2011 edition) thanks to those pesky Labour councillors.

Share the joy?

Re: Car park charges
 

I bet you were a pain as a kid.

No, for your own good, and future enjoyment, there'll be a photograph released each year, now they really are valuable collectables from a more decadent age.

You'll just have to wait.

You'll thank me, come the festive season.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...hly-18823.html

:D

Re: Car park charges
 

G...please will you give an adequate warning to those of us who are of a senstivie disposition, and have a 'PB intolerance'?
Thank you in advance. :D

Re: Car park charges
 

By the way, they are very precious, and rare in number now.

Not everyone in Oswaldtwistle received these calendars.

Indeed, not everyone in St. Andrew's ward was lucky enough to get their hands on them.

Some years I seriously wondered if the scented hand that posted my own calendar, only delivered copies to those aesthetes who truly appreciated their beauty.

Those aesthetes numbering but one.

:rolleyes:

Re: Car park charges
 

Thus spake Hyndburn's very own Brian Sewell, and very eloquently too.

Regrettably, being a man of lesser tastes who is content to gorge himself intellectually on episodes of Doctor Who and the prosaic scribblings of Fred Dibnah, I fear I am not worthy of such an artistic feast for the eyes.

I live in a terraced house, for pity's sake.

When I see how the other half live it makes me want to weep in shame.

Re: Car park charges
 

Teary tantrums hold no sway with me.

You'll still have to wait.

It's for your own good.

Patience is a virtue.

So's tough love.

Wait.

:D

Re: Car park charges
 

What's the going rate for tough love these days?

£300? £350?

It may mean something different in artistic circles.

Re: Car park charges
 

Back to the thread, Hyndburn Council has got itself into a situation where, politically, anybody proposing the introduction of car parking charges is committing political suicide.

In effect, it is a hidden subsidy that the Council makes for the benefit of town centre businesses. There is nothing wrong with that, and it may be a laudable policy to have. However, it comes at a cost, which should always be included the council's accounts, and also in any list of potential budget savings, so it can fairly be judged against other Council priorities.

I think I'm right in saying that it isn't currently shown as a cost in the accounts.

Re: Car park charges
 

Load of old codswallop, but visually that's a beautiful post.

See, an aesthete!

Style over substance.

:D

Re: Car park charges
 

The thread starter brought up a comparison with another political concern, which means further discussions weren't off thread.

The humourless can easily skim over any comic comments.

:)

Re: Car park charges
 

Without looking into it I couldn't say although I would suspect nothing has changed. It would be disastrous for Accrington town centre as it is one of the few advantages over neighbouring towns such as Blackburn or Burnley.

I can't say I'd be pleased if any controlling group introduced car parking charges, particularly at the moment.

Re: Car park charges
 

When it comes to 'free parking', it's like putting a cherry on a turd.

Considering what very little has been done besides this, to help established town centre businesses.

With many past council decisions now in place, we must be grateful there are any left at all.

Re: Car park charges
 

It was indeed visually something to bring one to a state of textual ecstasy. The sweeping edges of each statement falling away gracefully to leave simply the smile from someone who is literally green with envy that he wasn't the progenitor of such wonderous prose.

You ever thought of writing council reports?

Re: Car park charges
 

Sorry.

I can't polish them.

Only pop a cherry on top.

:D

Re: Car park charges
 

You could always help out your local county councillor with his election material? He'll more than likely be needing some literary support for the county elections in 2013. Conseravtive literature that I have seen in the past has been so poor that even a polish or a cherry on top wouldn't improve matters.

Or even having a lolly stick poking out of it on Blackpool beach.

Re: Car park charges
 

The council must be missing out on millions when you consider the car parks are always so full people have to go to Blackburn to park :rolleyes:

Re: Car park charges
 

The Tories promised back in 2000 when they took control of HBC that there would be no parking charges implemented during their administration, something they campaigned on together with the Accrington Observer, its pleasing to know that this will carry on under the new administration. The only problem I could foresee is if the council decided to sell the covenant of the Arndale Centre which would mean there would have no say in charges being introduced if this were to happen

Re: Car park charges
 

See post #1.

Re: Car park charges
 

I've publicly offered my services.

Even offering cut price rates, for those living on reduced means.

I'm all heart.

Give, give, give.

Re: Car park charges
 

How can free parking be a cost?
I can see it could be classed as lost income but not a cost.

Re: Car park charges
 

Whether the land is used for carparking or just left vacant, whats the difference, other than its more use as car parks, some keep quoting council owned land, wrong, the land is owned by the people of Accrington, the present people in britcliffe palace are just the caretakers.
Now that britcliffes gone, & it need no longer be called britcliffe palace, maybe it should be renamed, how about Tonka Town Towers.
Retlaw

Re: Car park charges
 

To a Council looking for millions of pounds of budget savings, lost income is a cost.

Re: Car park charges
 

I might try that one with the taxman when I submit my accounts, I should be turning over 20 million but fell short this year, so my lost income is a cost :D

Surely the only cost is if there is a maintenance issue.

Re: Car park charges
 

If you're going to argue that free car parking should somehow be recorded as a loss of income, the same could be said of the health service, and state education.

We've already paid for 'free' parking.

I guess we're just lucky that in Hyndburn we don't have to pay for it twice over.

Perhaps some numpties would like to see tolls imposed to use every street and road, because not to do so means it's a' loss of income' from government coffers.

Re: Car park charges
 

I dont agree with local councils (or anyone) charging you to park on a street you have paid road tax to use. Hyndburn have got it right and its about time on street parking charges were banned. Charging to park on a car park is a different matter and it is really good its free in Accy.

Re: Car park charges
 

That neil is a damn good point.;)

Re: Car park charges
 

No Neil, we'll have to accept it.

We haven't already paid for the privilege.

It's a free gift, and therefore should be costed as a loss of income, that we're not charged for it twice.

It's the same with fresh air.

We should be charged for using it.

Not to do so should be recorded as a loss.

Re: Car park charges
 

I'm sure there are some Councils up and down the land who would, if they could.

With car parking, most Councils charge. Hyndburn don't. It is a clear decision not to have income that they could have, so to balance the books they have to look at cost reductions or income generation elsewhere in the budget.

Re: Car park charges
 

As stated, unlike other places, we're fortunate here in Hyndburn, in that we aren't charged twice to park.

Re: Car park charges
 

So should all them that Park on the Pavement down Blackburn road be charged or is it going to stay free parking too :p

Re: Car park charges
 

:rofl38::rofl38::rofl38::rofl38:

Re: Car park charges
 

Don't you give um ideas G:D

Re: Car park charges
 

Take you wouldn't be in favour of congestion charges then Neil:rolleyes:

Re: Car park charges
 

It might be interesting to find out just how many authorities DO subscribe to free parking in GB

Re: Car park charges
 

If there are two neighbouring towns that Accy should be compared with (in terms of size, architecture and spatial lay-out), they are Hebden Bridge and Skipton. Both of these towns have parking charges yet both are regarded as pocessing some of the best shopping areas in the UK and being amongst the best places to live in the UK.

I certainly cannot be arsed to to do any shopping in Accy town centre any longer, given the volume of traffic and the resultant air pollution. It's a quick visit to Tesco - get in, shop and get out and 'owt else I need when I'm back there I arrange to get on line. No way do I wish to run the gauntlet of drunks, fatso's and lazy drivers lurching from one dodgy retail outlet to another (T-shirt print shops excepted).

The problem of course, is that the borough is in the dark ages when it comes to shopping. There are no town centre cycle lanes and there is but one pedestrianised throughfare, Broadway. The rest is a first degree mess. The sooner that restrictions are placed on cars coming into the town centre, the better and that will mean that a different class of shoppers will return, with a more prosperous town centre for everyone.

Re: Car park charges
 

It is a long way from Wapping when all's said and done:D:D