Free Sunday parking report criticised by Brighton and Hove Lib Dems
A report on a proposal to allow free parking in Brighton and Hove on Sundays has been criticised as inept and biased.
The report was written after a petition was presented to Brighton and Hove City Council by local Liberal Democrats.
One of those behind the petition, Jeremy Gale, said that the report was “inept, biased and covered with the Green Party’s fingerprints”.
The petition, signed by 1,282 people, called for the introduction of free Sunday parking across Brighton and Hove.
The council agreed to draft a report costing the implementation of both the full and partial introduction of free Sunday parking.
Jeremy Gale
But Mr Gale said that the report was biased because it overlooked the positive impact that free Sunday parking would have.
Mr Gale, who plans to stand in the local elections in Central Hove next year, said: “The officers were asked to produce a fair, balanced and impartial report costing the full and partial implementation of free Sunday parking.
“This has not happened. The report is inept, biased and covered with the Green Party’s fingerprints.
“The report has failed to highlight the money that would be saved by not employing parking enforcement officers on Sunday – a figure which we believe costs the council hundreds of thousands of pounds a year.”
The report will be discussed by the council’s Policy and Resources Committee at Hove Town Hall on Thursday (12 June). The meeting starts at 4pm and is open to the public.
Mr Gale added: “Surprisingly, the report states the proposal would have a negative impact on our economy.
“The proposal would have positive ramifications on our local economy, with an increase in visitors to the city who, through free Sunday parking, would have more money to spend in the shops and with the retailers across the city.
“The committee are due to make their decision on the proposal on Thursday but I can’t see how they can make an informed, balanced and well-judged decision with the report that is available to them.”
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Cost ,cost and more cost,nothing about concestion or lack of, just money, money, money.
As all car drivers know, parking charges are just another tax on the motorist.
Cost ,cost and more cost,nothing about concestion or lack of, just money, money, money.
As all car drivers know, parking charges are just another tax on the motorist.
Cost ,cost and more cost,nothing about concestion or lack of, just money, money, money.
As all car drivers know, parking charges are just another tax on the motorist.
I sat in a coffee bar at Seven Dials yesterday. It didn’t seem as if parking charges were acting as a significant deterrent to motorists coming in. The roads were rammed.
Free parking would lead to a deluge of visitors on Sunday and, most likely, no-one on Saturday. And what proposals do the Lib Dems have, I wonder, to make up the shortfall in revenue?
I sat in a coffee bar at Seven Dials yesterday. It didn’t seem as if parking charges were acting as a significant deterrent to motorists coming in. The roads were rammed.
Free parking would lead to a deluge of visitors on Sunday and, most likely, no-one on Saturday. And what proposals do the Lib Dems have, I wonder, to make up the shortfall in revenue?
I sat in a coffee bar at Seven Dials yesterday. It didn’t seem as if parking charges were acting as a significant deterrent to motorists coming in. The roads were rammed.
Free parking would lead to a deluge of visitors on Sunday and, most likely, no-one on Saturday. And what proposals do the Lib Dems have, I wonder, to make up the shortfall in revenue?
We would still need Parking Enforcement Officers on a Sunday. Or does Mr Gale advocate letting motorists park anywhere they please? There’s enough parking on double yellow lines and pavement parking to keep them busy.
We would still need Parking Enforcement Officers on a Sunday. Or does Mr Gale advocate letting motorists park anywhere they please? There’s enough parking on double yellow lines and pavement parking to keep them busy.
We would still need Parking Enforcement Officers on a Sunday. Or does Mr Gale advocate letting motorists park anywhere they please? There’s enough parking on double yellow lines and pavement parking to keep them busy.
This proposal just shows what a low ebb the Liberals are now at. Once, they cared about the environment. It seems the Liberals have lost most of the best people due to their disasterous support for the Tories and are left locally with opportunists.
Still, if it splits the congestion vote, then great!
This proposal just shows what a low ebb the Liberals are now at. Once, they cared about the environment. It seems the Liberals have lost most of the best people due to their disasterous support for the Tories and are left locally with opportunists.
Still, if it splits the congestion vote, then great!
This proposal just shows what a low ebb the Liberals are now at. Once, they cared about the environment. It seems the Liberals have lost most of the best people due to their disasterous support for the Tories and are left locally with opportunists.
Still, if it splits the congestion vote, then great!
If I want to drive to London I can get FREE parking in Central London on a Sunday – why should Brighton be different.
More significantly it is now time that we standardised the parking controls across the whole City there are Residents Only, 2 hour parking, 4 hour parking 11 hour parking in the same road and unclear signage – the parking bays in most roads vary at least twice and often six times or more in the same road; the changing signage again set up the driver to get it wrong but BHCC are happy it all adds to the revenue .
In addition parking from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. again different times being specified in the same road. Please standardise to 6 p.m. as this is only a revenue collecting exercise. The Residents only bays should remain at 8 p.m.
If I want to drive to London I can get FREE parking in Central London on a Sunday – why should Brighton be different.
More significantly it is now time that we standardised the parking controls across the whole City there are Residents Only, 2 hour parking, 4 hour parking 11 hour parking in the same road and unclear signage – the parking bays in most roads vary at least twice and often six times or more in the same road; the changing signage again set up the driver to get it wrong but BHCC are happy it all adds to the revenue .
In addition parking from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. again different times being specified in the same road. Please standardise to 6 p.m. as this is only a revenue collecting exercise. The Residents only bays should remain at 8 p.m.
If I want to drive to London I can get FREE parking in Central London on a Sunday – why should Brighton be different.
More significantly it is now time that we standardised the parking controls across the whole City there are Residents Only, 2 hour parking, 4 hour parking 11 hour parking in the same road and unclear signage – the parking bays in most roads vary at least twice and often six times or more in the same road; the changing signage again set up the driver to get it wrong but BHCC are happy it all adds to the revenue .
In addition parking from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. again different times being specified in the same road. Please standardise to 6 p.m. as this is only a revenue collecting exercise. The Residents only bays should remain at 8 p.m.
Jill is spot on – Brighton and Hove has a system contrived to catch out the motorist. Continuous tweaks and changes to the parking times ie 6pm / 8pm etc are designed to confuse. There is no sense in charging up to 8pm – this is mean in any case. Of course parking should be free on Sundays. The zones should be abandoned, any resident of Brighton and Hove should be able to park anywhere in the city. Half the cars on the roads are just circulating, looking for spaces to park. More and more bicycle lanes and daft road schemes… when cyclists just drive on the pavements anyway and ignore traffic lights. This city is absolutely crackers…Parking controls were introduced for sensible reasons and should not be used as a means of creating revenue. This situation is despicable and has to be dismantled.
Jill is spot on – Brighton and Hove has a system contrived to catch out the motorist. Continuous tweaks and changes to the parking times ie 6pm / 8pm etc are designed to confuse. There is no sense in charging up to 8pm – this is mean in any case. Of course parking should be free on Sundays. The zones should be abandoned, any resident of Brighton and Hove should be able to park anywhere in the city. Half the cars on the roads are just circulating, looking for spaces to park. More and more bicycle lanes and daft road schemes… when cyclists just drive on the pavements anyway and ignore traffic lights. This city is absolutely crackers…Parking controls were introduced for sensible reasons and should not be used as a means of creating revenue. This situation is despicable and has to be dismantled.
Jill is spot on – Brighton and Hove has a system contrived to catch out the motorist. Continuous tweaks and changes to the parking times ie 6pm / 8pm etc are designed to confuse. There is no sense in charging up to 8pm – this is mean in any case. Of course parking should be free on Sundays. The zones should be abandoned, any resident of Brighton and Hove should be able to park anywhere in the city. Half the cars on the roads are just circulating, looking for spaces to park. More and more bicycle lanes and daft road schemes… when cyclists just drive on the pavements anyway and ignore traffic lights. This city is absolutely crackers…Parking controls were introduced for sensible reasons and should not be used as a means of creating revenue. This situation is despicable and has to be dismantled.
Not sure why this generates so much emotion. The situation is that there are more cars than there are parking spaces, straight forward really. So, it is then a question of ‘How do you manage this?’. It is hard to see any other way than by charging, any notion of ‘parking rationing by vouchers’ would lead to all sorts of undesirable side issues. Equally, it is hard to see how free parking can help, encouraging more cars will cause more traffic jams into Brighton and more cars ‘hunting’ for spaces – this happens enough already. Would free ‘park and ride’ help? Anyway, calm, sensible debate amongst residents, visitors, and councillors is the way to reach agreement – I suspect that will lead to leaving the charges as is. Perhaps that is the best compromise…….
Not sure why this generates so much emotion. The situation is that there are more cars than there are parking spaces, straight forward really. So, it is then a question of ‘How do you manage this?’. It is hard to see any other way than by charging, any notion of ‘parking rationing by vouchers’ would lead to all sorts of undesirable side issues. Equally, it is hard to see how free parking can help, encouraging more cars will cause more traffic jams into Brighton and more cars ‘hunting’ for spaces – this happens enough already. Would free ‘park and ride’ help? Anyway, calm, sensible debate amongst residents, visitors, and councillors is the way to reach agreement – I suspect that will lead to leaving the charges as is. Perhaps that is the best compromise…….
Not sure why this generates so much emotion. The situation is that there are more cars than there are parking spaces, straight forward really. So, it is then a question of ‘How do you manage this?’. It is hard to see any other way than by charging, any notion of ‘parking rationing by vouchers’ would lead to all sorts of undesirable side issues. Equally, it is hard to see how free parking can help, encouraging more cars will cause more traffic jams into Brighton and more cars ‘hunting’ for spaces – this happens enough already. Would free ‘park and ride’ help? Anyway, calm, sensible debate amongst residents, visitors, and councillors is the way to reach agreement – I suspect that will lead to leaving the charges as is. Perhaps that is the best compromise…….
Good old official Green Party Spokesman (HJarrs) having nothing constructive to say and just resorting to attacking the other parties rather than expending what the official Green Party policy is – namely to scr*w motorists (cars owned by at least 60% of households and probably even more actual residents) to fund their grandiose ideological transport schemes (unenforced 20mph zones and unused cycle lanes) that have lead to increased congestion and pollution.
What a wretched little incompetent irresponsible political party!
Good old official Green Party Spokesman (HJarrs) having nothing constructive to say and just resorting to attacking the other parties rather than expending what the official Green Party policy is – namely to scr*w motorists (cars owned by at least 60% of households and probably even more actual residents) to fund their grandiose ideological transport schemes (unenforced 20mph zones and unused cycle lanes) that have lead to increased congestion and pollution.
What a wretched little incompetent irresponsible political party!
Good old official Green Party Spokesman (HJarrs) having nothing constructive to say and just resorting to attacking the other parties rather than expending what the official Green Party policy is – namely to scr*w motorists (cars owned by at least 60% of households and probably even more actual residents) to fund their grandiose ideological transport schemes (unenforced 20mph zones and unused cycle lanes) that have lead to increased congestion and pollution.
What a wretched little incompetent irresponsible political party!
There are probably more than enough spaces for the car numbers in Brighton… the problem is actually created by the Council (and others up and down the country) as an easy means of raising revenue. In this city, like many others, there are a vast number of roads that have been painted with double yellow lines, often unnecessarily (but often justified on safety grounds). We could probably double the amount of parking spaces in Brighton and Hove if action were taken to modify or remove many road markings. The only way to determining if there is a traffic or parking problem is actually to test it and I am pretty sure that if the parking controls and charges were abandoned for just one day – such as Sunday (or any day for that matter) there would be absolutely no traffic problem…in fact the environment of the city would be immediately changed for the better. Of course, this will never be tested on a normal working day and whilst the current arrangement continues to rake in millions, this current revenue raising system will be maintained.
There are probably more than enough spaces for the car numbers in Brighton… the problem is actually created by the Council (and others up and down the country) as an easy means of raising revenue. In this city, like many others, there are a vast number of roads that have been painted with double yellow lines, often unnecessarily (but often justified on safety grounds). We could probably double the amount of parking spaces in Brighton and Hove if action were taken to modify or remove many road markings. The only way to determining if there is a traffic or parking problem is actually to test it and I am pretty sure that if the parking controls and charges were abandoned for just one day – such as Sunday (or any day for that matter) there would be absolutely no traffic problem…in fact the environment of the city would be immediately changed for the better. Of course, this will never be tested on a normal working day and whilst the current arrangement continues to rake in millions, this current revenue raising system will be maintained.
There are probably more than enough spaces for the car numbers in Brighton… the problem is actually created by the Council (and others up and down the country) as an easy means of raising revenue. In this city, like many others, there are a vast number of roads that have been painted with double yellow lines, often unnecessarily (but often justified on safety grounds). We could probably double the amount of parking spaces in Brighton and Hove if action were taken to modify or remove many road markings. The only way to determining if there is a traffic or parking problem is actually to test it and I am pretty sure that if the parking controls and charges were abandoned for just one day – such as Sunday (or any day for that matter) there would be absolutely no traffic problem…in fact the environment of the city would be immediately changed for the better. Of course, this will never be tested on a normal working day and whilst the current arrangement continues to rake in millions, this current revenue raising system will be maintained.
I lived in Hove before any parking restrictions and there were not enough spaces for cars then, always a challenge to get anywhere near your house. Even now people park their vehicles where there are no restrictions and catch a bus to get them when they need them. Silly it sounds, but there where (are) not enough spaces and people would park in ridiculous places (ask the wheelchair users).
As for traffic, just go to the bottom of the A23 on a sunny day.
I love the way you bemoan the millions, is it really millions? Even if it is is, you say it as if it goes to the pockets of individuals – the council has to get the money from somewhere – nothing is free. If you are complaining about the allocation of that money then just follow the usual democratic processes, I do.
I lived in Hove before any parking restrictions and there were not enough spaces for cars then, always a challenge to get anywhere near your house. Even now people park their vehicles where there are no restrictions and catch a bus to get them when they need them. Silly it sounds, but there where (are) not enough spaces and people would park in ridiculous places (ask the wheelchair users).
As for traffic, just go to the bottom of the A23 on a sunny day.
I love the way you bemoan the millions, is it really millions? Even if it is is, you say it as if it goes to the pockets of individuals – the council has to get the money from somewhere – nothing is free. If you are complaining about the allocation of that money then just follow the usual democratic processes, I do.
I lived in Hove before any parking restrictions and there were not enough spaces for cars then, always a challenge to get anywhere near your house. Even now people park their vehicles where there are no restrictions and catch a bus to get them when they need them. Silly it sounds, but there where (are) not enough spaces and people would park in ridiculous places (ask the wheelchair users).
As for traffic, just go to the bottom of the A23 on a sunny day.
I love the way you bemoan the millions, is it really millions? Even if it is is, you say it as if it goes to the pockets of individuals – the council has to get the money from somewhere – nothing is free. If you are complaining about the allocation of that money then just follow the usual democratic processes, I do.
On a wider issue re: parking Jolly mentions parking in ridiculous places – we have the the communal street bins that are parked on double yellow lines and/or at a location which obstructs road users(wheelchair users, pedestrians, drivers and cyclists) safety – isn’t this RIDICULOUS clearly the Council don’t think so? These bins features all over our City how did we ever manage without them?
On the issue of abandoning parking charges for a day I am fairly confident that this happened on a couple of Sundays leading up to Christmas last year so the Council would have data to supply if there was ever a time for chaos that would be it.
In 2011/2 116,097 parking charge notices were issued so we are talking about millions.
On a wider issue re: parking Jolly mentions parking in ridiculous places – we have the the communal street bins that are parked on double yellow lines and/or at a location which obstructs road users(wheelchair users, pedestrians, drivers and cyclists) safety – isn’t this RIDICULOUS clearly the Council don’t think so? These bins features all over our City how did we ever manage without them?
On the issue of abandoning parking charges for a day I am fairly confident that this happened on a couple of Sundays leading up to Christmas last year so the Council would have data to supply if there was ever a time for chaos that would be it.
In 2011/2 116,097 parking charge notices were issued so we are talking about millions.
On a wider issue re: parking Jolly mentions parking in ridiculous places – we have the the communal street bins that are parked on double yellow lines and/or at a location which obstructs road users(wheelchair users, pedestrians, drivers and cyclists) safety – isn’t this RIDICULOUS clearly the Council don’t think so? These bins features all over our City how did we ever manage without them?
On the issue of abandoning parking charges for a day I am fairly confident that this happened on a couple of Sundays leading up to Christmas last year so the Council would have data to supply if there was ever a time for chaos that would be it.
In 2011/2 116,097 parking charge notices were issued so we are talking about millions.
HJarrs and the rest of the spiteful, wretched, incompetent and incapable Marxist Green loons yet again demonstrating how completely out of touch they are with the electorate
HJarrs and the rest of the spiteful, wretched, incompetent and incapable Marxist Green loons yet again demonstrating how completely out of touch they are with the electorate
HJarrs and the rest of the spiteful, wretched, incompetent and incapable Marxist Green loons yet again demonstrating how completely out of touch they are with the electorate
Jolly – I understand what you say about parking near your house…I am sure that pressure in some areas is inevitably caused by more stringent restrictions in other zones. For example, large numbers of visitors now park in the uncontrolled areas of New Church Road, since there are now time restrictions and only pay spaces etc in most other parts of Hove. I am in favour of some degree of control and sensible use of residents spaces and time restricted parking etc, but certainly not the over zealous and erratic parking control system that is currently in operation for which Brighton and Hove is now famous throughout the country. I never see any attempts by anyone to actually ease congestion in the city which is so often caused by double parking, taxis picking up in the middle of the road, lorries stopping in the roads to make deliveries etc. Traffic wardens have no remit to deal with these real congestion causing issues presumably since they cannot raise revenue from these. I’m sorry but the situation has been has been deteriorating for a long in this City and the current administration’s bus/cycle/single lane schemes are piling on even more chaos. Yes – as a long standing resident I am very angry and emotional about this. Like many others I have a busy life and no real time to engage properly in the debate and fight the Council’s policies – instead have had to watch all this happening for years, in quiet dismay.
Jolly – I understand what you say about parking near your house…I am sure that pressure in some areas is inevitably caused by more stringent restrictions in other zones. For example, large numbers of visitors now park in the uncontrolled areas of New Church Road, since there are now time restrictions and only pay spaces etc in most other parts of Hove. I am in favour of some degree of control and sensible use of residents spaces and time restricted parking etc, but certainly not the over zealous and erratic parking control system that is currently in operation for which Brighton and Hove is now famous throughout the country. I never see any attempts by anyone to actually ease congestion in the city which is so often caused by double parking, taxis picking up in the middle of the road, lorries stopping in the roads to make deliveries etc. Traffic wardens have no remit to deal with these real congestion causing issues presumably since they cannot raise revenue from these. I’m sorry but the situation has been has been deteriorating for a long in this City and the current administration’s bus/cycle/single lane schemes are piling on even more chaos. Yes – as a long standing resident I am very angry and emotional about this. Like many others I have a busy life and no real time to engage properly in the debate and fight the Council’s policies – instead have had to watch all this happening for years, in quiet dismay.
Jolly – I understand what you say about parking near your house…I am sure that pressure in some areas is inevitably caused by more stringent restrictions in other zones. For example, large numbers of visitors now park in the uncontrolled areas of New Church Road, since there are now time restrictions and only pay spaces etc in most other parts of Hove. I am in favour of some degree of control and sensible use of residents spaces and time restricted parking etc, but certainly not the over zealous and erratic parking control system that is currently in operation for which Brighton and Hove is now famous throughout the country. I never see any attempts by anyone to actually ease congestion in the city which is so often caused by double parking, taxis picking up in the middle of the road, lorries stopping in the roads to make deliveries etc. Traffic wardens have no remit to deal with these real congestion causing issues presumably since they cannot raise revenue from these. I’m sorry but the situation has been has been deteriorating for a long in this City and the current administration’s bus/cycle/single lane schemes are piling on even more chaos. Yes – as a long standing resident I am very angry and emotional about this. Like many others I have a busy life and no real time to engage properly in the debate and fight the Council’s policies – instead have had to watch all this happening for years, in quiet dismay.
I still do not understand the name calling – why? People in the council do try to do what they think is best, it is very easy (as can be seen) just to criticise and name call. If someone can do better – and that may well be true – then go for office and change it, the democratic process. If you are not prepared to do anything about it (within the law and processes as stated) then stop worrying about it, for your own health and sanity.
Equally, I do not see how a position on traffic wardens not doing something (is there real evidence for this?) can mean it is better to do nothing, i.e., no parking restrictions. If this is true then that needs addressing separatley. Bear in mind also, these cars and vehicles do not pop out of nowhere, they are parked there by people. Surely it would be better if we can all work together to stop any selfish behaviour. It worked quite well with litter, perhaps we can improve collective behaviour by public campaigns. Might be worth a try.
I still do not understand the name calling – why? People in the council do try to do what they think is best, it is very easy (as can be seen) just to criticise and name call. If someone can do better – and that may well be true – then go for office and change it, the democratic process. If you are not prepared to do anything about it (within the law and processes as stated) then stop worrying about it, for your own health and sanity.
Equally, I do not see how a position on traffic wardens not doing something (is there real evidence for this?) can mean it is better to do nothing, i.e., no parking restrictions. If this is true then that needs addressing separatley. Bear in mind also, these cars and vehicles do not pop out of nowhere, they are parked there by people. Surely it would be better if we can all work together to stop any selfish behaviour. It worked quite well with litter, perhaps we can improve collective behaviour by public campaigns. Might be worth a try.
I still do not understand the name calling – why? People in the council do try to do what they think is best, it is very easy (as can be seen) just to criticise and name call. If someone can do better – and that may well be true – then go for office and change it, the democratic process. If you are not prepared to do anything about it (within the law and processes as stated) then stop worrying about it, for your own health and sanity.
Equally, I do not see how a position on traffic wardens not doing something (is there real evidence for this?) can mean it is better to do nothing, i.e., no parking restrictions. If this is true then that needs addressing separatley. Bear in mind also, these cars and vehicles do not pop out of nowhere, they are parked there by people. Surely it would be better if we can all work together to stop any selfish behaviour. It worked quite well with litter, perhaps we can improve collective behaviour by public campaigns. Might be worth a try.
As a motorist, I can tell you that the parking problems are everyone else’s fault. In particular, I blame the council for insufficient parking space that should be free for me. It’s about time they knocked down every other terrace of housing by me to widen the roads and provide parking. Oh yes, and should be able to park outside my house and have as many cars as I want. There, I made the argument for you all.
As a motorist, I can tell you that the parking problems are everyone else’s fault. In particular, I blame the council for insufficient parking space that should be free for me. It’s about time they knocked down every other terrace of housing by me to widen the roads and provide parking. Oh yes, and should be able to park outside my house and have as many cars as I want. There, I made the argument for you all.
As a motorist, I can tell you that the parking problems are everyone else’s fault. In particular, I blame the council for insufficient parking space that should be free for me. It’s about time they knocked down every other terrace of housing by me to widen the roads and provide parking. Oh yes, and should be able to park outside my house and have as many cars as I want. There, I made the argument for you all.
What a sad person you are HJArrs, I will definitely miss your Green propaganda once your mob are removed from a position of your abuse of power. Once again national news posts highest profits from traffic management outside of London. I forecast a Green melt down similar to the Libdems next council elections. I’m voting Unchain next,
What a sad person you are HJArrs, I will definitely miss your Green propaganda once your mob are removed from a position of your abuse of power. Once again national news posts highest profits from traffic management outside of London. I forecast a Green melt down similar to the Libdems next council elections. I’m voting Unchain next,
What a sad person you are HJArrs, I will definitely miss your Green propaganda once your mob are removed from a position of your abuse of power. Once again national news posts highest profits from traffic management outside of London. I forecast a Green melt down similar to the Libdems next council elections. I’m voting Unchain next,