Parking charges to increase (From The Northern Echo)
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Parking charges to increase
6:00pm Wednesday 8th July 2009 in
ON-STREET parking charges in Darlington are to rise by 25 per cent to bring them in line with other car parks.
Members of Darlington Borough Council's cabinet group backed the proposals to raise the parking rates, which could increase annual revenue by £25,000.
However, leader of the opposition Conservative group challenged the timing of the decision because it sent out the wrong message to shoppers.
Council officers had recommended to the cabinet that on-street charges should be increased from 40p per half-hour to 50p, and from 80p per hour to £1.
The report added: "The recommendation is supported to achieve consistency between off-street and on-street parking charges."
In February, the council had increased the hourly rates in short stay car parks from 80p to £1.
The report said there had been no complaints to the increase but it had resulted in confusion because of the difference in charges.
It added that no consultation had been carried out into on-street changes but there had been no adverse feedback to previous consultation for the earlier changes.
Councillor David Lyonette, cabinet member for transport, said the changes should possibly have been done earlier.
His predecessor Nick Wallis said: "This is a straight-forward tidying-up exercise. It is important we set charges to be the best in the region.
"This is in line with many of our competitors in the region."
Councillor Heather Scott, leader of the Conservatives, said: "Is this the right time to be doing this tidying up exercise?
"We want to get more people into the town. I feel this is sending out the wrong message at the wrong time.
"It will be interesting to see how much difference this makes to the budget. Instead we should be doing more to encourage people into the town."
Although no specific consultation was carried out, council leader John Williams said he had received no criticism from traders to whom he had spoken.
He added: "We will do everything we can to encourage people into Darlington."
The council has 27 designated on-street parking areas, which charge either from Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm or Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm.
Comments(33)
Laird
says...
10:59pm Wed 8 Jul 09
"Nick Wallis said: "This is a straight-forward tidying-up exercise. It is important we set charges to be the best in the region.
"This is in line with many of our competitors in the region."
The best usually means cheaper than your competitors Nick.
Secondly, John williams states,
"We will do everything we can to encourage people into Darlington."
Hmmmmmmmm?, how is increasing the parking charges by 25% going to do that then Johnny?
darlolady
says...
5:37pm Thu 9 Jul 09
stevegg
says...
7:50pm Thu 9 Jul 09
miketually
says...
8:42pm Thu 9 Jul 09
Dean M
says...
10:32pm Thu 9 Jul 09
Maybe when a few more shops close, more people lose their jobs and Darlo becomes even emptier, then these 'council officers' might get the message (and the reduced revenue might hopefully lead to some of them getting the sack).
MrMorden
says...
1:32pm Fri 10 Jul 09
I never pay, I park in the streets just outside town centre.
As for competitive last time I was at the Metro Centre it was FREE.
miketually
says...
9:09pm Fri 10 Jul 09
I was in the town centre this morning and it was packed, just like it is every time I go down.
BMD
says...
12:57pm Sun 12 Jul 09
The only people I see in the Town Centre during the day are students and immigrants. Retailers will make a fortune out of that section of the community.
Sardonicus
says...
3:55pm Sun 12 Jul 09
When you you go into town, Mike? Packed is not a word I would use when I am in there.
Scaffinch
says...
12:33pm Mon 13 Jul 09
Don't forget the amount of Greggs Bakers in the town centre! Apart from up in Newcastle, I don't think I've come across a higher concentration of the same chain than there is in Darlington.
Seriously though, raising parking charges is just going to increase parking & congestion in streets just outside the town centre, which is going to annoy residents more, so more permit parking/designated on-street parking areas will pop up in these areas, which will push motorists further out....
Simple answer - if you want to attractmore visitors/shoppers to the town, why not spend some "revenue" and introduce a proper Park-and-Ride system?
Scaffinch
says...
12:34pm Mon 13 Jul 09
Don't forget the amount of Greggs Bakers in the town centre! Apart from up in Newcastle, I don't think I've come across a higher concentration of the same chain than there is in Darlington.
Seriously though, raising parking charges is just going to increase parking & congestion in streets just outside the town centre, which is going to annoy residents more, so more permit parking/designated on-street parking areas will pop up in these areas, which will push motorists further out....
Simple answer - if you want to attractmore visitors/shoppers to the town, why not spend some "revenue" and introduce a proper Park-and-Ride system?
R1150GS
says...
9:12am Tue 14 Jul 09
Super steve
says...
9:34am Tue 14 Jul 09
Super steve
says...
9:36am Tue 14 Jul 09
miketually wrote:Yes its fully of Council Office workers driving nice cars paid for by the high council tax, high parking costs and poor public services.
But how much in petrol to drive to the Metro? I was in the town centre this morning and it was packed, just like it is every time I go down.
melwilson
says...
11:55am Tue 14 Jul 09
Laird
says...
12:48pm Tue 14 Jul 09
We enjoy complaining about the council - come join us..
MrMorden
says...
1:22pm Tue 14 Jul 09
High Row, Pound Stretcher, Poundland blah blah.
Queens St. Serveal shops empty.
Cornmill: Lost Woolworths and a few others.
This "competitive" rubbish from the council is another "get money from the locals".
miketually
says...
1:39pm Tue 14 Jul 09
That's before we get onto the Cheese and Wine Shop, The Angels Share deli, the Healthfood Warehouse, the stalls in the Market, the two bike shops, and all the other little local shops.
Then there're the bakers and cafes, sandwich shops, pubs...
Now, why should I drive to the Metro or Northallerton?
BMD
says...
5:34pm Tue 14 Jul 09
“Forgetting Binns, Boyes, several shoe shops, lots of clothes shops, WHSmiths, Primark, Boots, Waterstones, lots of opticians, Rymans, M&S...
That's before we get onto the Cheese and Wine Shop, The Angels Share deli, the Healthfood Warehouse, the stalls in the Market, the two bike shops, and all the other little local shops.
Then there're the bakers and cafes, sandwich shops, pubs...”
Try expanding your small town experience, Businesses are queuing up to open a shop in the Metro centre! The only company expanding in Darlington is Fast food outlets to feed the wobbly bums!
Only Students, unemployed and Immigrants would bother to visit this town, only to fill in their day.
melwilson
says...
5:41pm Tue 14 Jul 09
miketually
says...
5:56pm Tue 14 Jul 09
dan29
says...
8:08pm Tue 14 Jul 09
BMD
says...
9:03pm Tue 14 Jul 09
This council has raised council tax year on year, car parking fee's year on year, increased the council work force year on year, take on major capital projects with more loop holes and get out clauses for the contractor to benefit at the cost to the tax payer and are we any better off, I think NOT, just hit harder in the pocket by these incompetent political correct parasites whom are so vain they cant see past their own self esteem.
miketually
says...
9:13pm Tue 14 Jul 09
BMD
says...
7:01am Wed 15 Jul 09
The only comparison that should count is inflation.
Compared to the rate of inflation, what percentage has council tax risen?
Laird
says...
7:58am Wed 15 Jul 09
whyohwhyohwhy
says...
8:09am Wed 15 Jul 09
Back on to the subject, which is raising parking charges by a few pence - I never have the correct change and I am so mean that I cannot bear to let the machine have my change! AT least you can always find a £1 coin.
PS The metro centre is miles away, you queue to parl then stumble around with all the fatties (yes they have them there too!) and end up walking further than if you'd just gone into Darlo centre!
Council-bashing is the ultimate impotent rage against the machine and faceless beurocracy. Pointless --- It leaves the world unchanged.
BMD
says...
9:42am Wed 15 Jul 09
Wrote:
"Council-bashing is the ultimate impotent rage against the machine and faceless beurocracy. Pointless --- It leaves the world unchanged."
So these faceless people are not accountable, with that attitude, I take it you just bend over and take it from behind!
whyohwhyohwhy
says...
2:20pm Wed 15 Jul 09
This is not a place for disenfranchised white males to cry into their beer because of their powerlessness - it's a local newspaper comment forum!
BMD
says...
4:25pm Wed 15 Jul 09
Also it has revealed what a society we live in, where people like yourself, are prepared to accept anything that is thrown at them! My forefathers would be rolling in their graves, if they knew all their hardships they endured, was wasted on spineless individual’s.
Highlighting the failings of the council should be every constituents concern; after all we are paying them.
When writing on a news forum web-site, silence is a great comfort, as you will find most people are of the same opinion.
whyohwhyohwhy
says...
10:32am Thu 16 Jul 09
Do you think anyone from the council cares about your borderline psycho comments here?
How bitter and sad you are.
whyohwhyohwhy
says...
10:43am Thu 16 Jul 09
Oh and I am well aware that this many of your type see this forum as some sort of support group for council bashers, labour-bashers, old-fashioned disciplinarians, end-of-world doomsayers, racists, thugs, bullies and otherwise disgrunteld males to agree with each other and let not one ounce of sense spoil their rants!
I am no expert but it sounds to me like you might have a small splinter of brain lodged in your skull!!!
"My forefathers..." lol!!!!
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BMD says...
6:14pm Wed 8 Jul 09