Car Parking in Newbury and West Berkshire is being subsidised by the taxpayer?
From information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, the BBC have discovered that West Berkshire is the only county in Southern England to LOSE money on its car parks. Car parking in West Berkshire is actually being subsidised by the taxpayer.
When interviewed by BBC South Today, Graham Jones, Leader of West Berkshire Council said:
“We do car parks as something which is a service to the community. We are just coming out of a very tough recession at the moment. It is very important that we support shoppers and traders through that”
Brighton and Hove Council make a huge profit from their car parks, yet with one exception all of their car parks charge lower tariffs than Newbury.
Where is Newbury going wrong?
The item will be broadcast again this evening (Thursday 28th) at 6.30pm on BBC1 South Today.
We have received an update from Graham Jones on this topic:
"The BBC reasearch was in relation to fines for car park offences in relation to head of population.
Brighton gain £25 per adult from Car Park fines. The highest in the SE. West Berks get 62p per adult from fines, the lowest in the SE.
Unlike some authorities we do not regard car parking fines as a hidden form of taxation.
An environment where we relied on fines as a form of income would not create a good trading environment for retailers"
I saw the late news on this item yesterday and I am confused.
Is/was Mr Jones saying that the whole parking system in West Berks running at a loss or just the section that collects fines for overstaying their allotted time?
When I go to Basingstoke, it is cheaper for me to park in Festival Place than it is in any of the Newbury car parks. Why is this?
Why have we we got all of these men in green uniforms pounding the streets, if they are not covering their own costs? Why do we need so many of them?
There are a number, but rather poignantly, we have that story of the guy blowing his nose whilst stationary in a queue of traffic. In-truth, I'm referring to any driving activity which broke the law, but caused no-one any harm.
we have that story of the guy blowing his nose whilst stationary in a queue of traffic.
Just out of interest, (and let's name and shame him) this chap was given a ticket by PC Stuart Grey (from Ayrshire), who is the self-same PC Stuart Grey (from Ayrshire) who also issued a fixed penalty ticket for littering to a chap who accidentally dropped a ten pound note in the street.
However, back on topic, according to this report, Newbury charges more for parking than anyone else in the report and yet they manage to make a loss.
How can this be? Don't the others have parking wardens?
However, back on topic, according to this report, Newbury charges more for parking than anyone else in the report and yet they manage to make a loss. How can this be? Don't the others have parking wardens? Threep
Yes, I think this is the issue, not necessarily that the tax payer subsidies parking in town. This despite broadening the chargeable area (post 6:00 pm charges).
Just out of interest, (and let's name and shame him) this chap was given a ticket by PC Stuart Grey (from Ayrshire), who is the self-same PC Stuart Grey (from Ayrshire) who also issued a fixed penalty ticket for littering to a chap who accidentally dropped a ten pound note in the street.
However, back on topic, according to this report, Newbury charges more for parking than anyone else in the report and yet they manage to make a loss.
How can this be? Don't the others have parking wardens?
Threep
I think they probably created the correct number of wardens for the number of parking offences committed.
There are a number, but rather poignantly, we have that story of the guy blowing his nose whilst stationary in a queue of traffic. In-truth, I'm referring to any driving activity which broke the law, but caused no-one any harm.
Doing 70 the wrong way up the Motorway is fine as long as I don't injure any one? Sure there's a high chance I will, but if I don't should I be allowed to get away with it?
We could extend this to other crimes. Does shoplifting do anyone any harm if it's from a big supermarket?
However, back on topic, according to this report, Newbury charges more for parking than anyone else in the report and yet they manage to make a loss.
How can this be? Don't the others have parking wardens?
It can't be, and it doesn't say anything of the sort in the BBC report.
Why "Newbury" doesn't make as much money as Brighton is because it receives about 2.5 percent of the revenue from Car Parking fines per adult compared to Brighton, that's 4000% less than "Newbury".
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