KENNET SHOPPING CENTRE LAUNCHES PARKING INITIATIVE

The Kennet Shopping Centre is to offer its shoppers the opportunity to park for free via a new innovative parking initiative.

Kennet Shopping have confirmed that they are to launch a parking incentive for shoppers to encourage the use of the ‘pay on foot’ car parks and combat the issue their customers have voiced regarding  parking charges.  As from 1st November, shoppers who utilise Newbury’s ‘pay on foot’ car parks; the Kennet Centre or Northbrook Street multi-stories and Bear Lane, KFC and Library, will be entitled to receive discounts on purchases in various stores within the shopping centre and is extended to several retailers  in Bartholomew Street and Market Place.

Mag Williams, Centre Manager has confirmed that, so far, 20 retailers in and around the Kennet Centre have joined the parking scheme, expecting more to join as it becomes more successful. Easily identifiable parking logos have been issued and will be displayed in participating stores.  Shoppers will receive discounts equating to a minimum of 1 hours free parking off their goods directly at the till. Participating stores will clearly display their criteria for receiving the discount and will stamp the parking ticket when the transaction is complete. Shoppers are free to utilise this scheme in as many participating stores as they wish, enabling them to receive discounts far in excess of their original parking fee. All they have to do is remember to take their parking ticket with them and produce it at the till prior to purchase.

Kennet Shopping will continue to offer its loyal shoppers opportunities to save money and reward them with excellent choice, plenty of available parking and a safe, affordable environment to shop.  Shoppers are encouraged to follow the new signage to the relevant car parks and save money while they shop.

Kennet Shopping has continued to serve Newbury since 1972; it has undergone many enhancements over the years, with the addition of a supermarket in 1982, a speciality mall in 1984, a multi storey car park and a small office building.  In 2009, the new cinema extension opened, increasing the site to more than 300,000 sq feet.  It is home to among others, Laura Ashley, Cargo, TK Maxx, Poundland and Pizza Express.

More information can be found at http://www.kennetshopping.co.uk

So if you walk/cycle or use public transport you get nothing.  Clog and pollute the roads and you get rewarded.

Quoted from jay

So if you walk/cycle or use public transport you get nothing.  Clog and pollute the roads and you get rewarded.

You get the discount of choosing a cheaper method of transport.

Quoted from jay

So if you walk/cycle or use public transport you get nothing.  Clog and pollute the roads and you get rewarded.

Equally, you don't pay anything. Anyway, you can please some of the people all the time but you can only please all of the people some of the time. (Einstein)

If your going to get more discount than the parking ticket costs, you could always buy a ticket and take it with you. How will they know there is no car?  

Quoted from brian

Equally, you don't pay anything. Anyway, you can please some of the people all the time but you can only please all of the people some of the time. (Einstein)

So you think buses are free?  Currently £1.60 minimum fare.

Quoted from jay

So if you walk/cycle or use public transport you get nothing.  Clog and pollute the roads and you get rewarded.

Quoted from jay

So you think buses are free?  Currently £1.60 minimum fare.

Some buses with only one or two passengers on board will be creating more pollution per passenger mile than a person in their car!

I would like to congratulate the shops involved for doing something to both promote their own trade, but also to encourage drivers to use the WBC parks (as a council tax payer I am all for an increase WBC parking revenues at no cost to myself).

Quite a number of those quaint little 'Ye Olde Shoppe's in Hungryford have been using a similar scheme for a couple of years now... Buy your Pay and Display ticket and show the stub in 'participating retailers' to get your parking fee back (or something like that).  Similarly, Waitrose in Thatcham give you your parking fee back if you shop with them..  

Quoted from jay

So you think buses are free?  Currently £1.60 minimum fare.

They are for me and looking at the majority of passengers, they are for them as well.

Quoted from LocalRes

If your going to get more discount than the parking ticket costs, you could always buy a ticket and take it with you. How will they know there is no car?

How do you get a ticket from those particular car parks without a car?


Threep.

Quoted from LocalRes

If your going to get more discount than the parking ticket costs, you could always buy a ticket and take it with you. How will they know there is no car?  

No car, no ticket  

Quoted from greenmeanie61

No car, no ticket  

How come?

Because those particular car parks are not 'pay and display'


Threep.

Quoted from Threepwood

Because those particular car parks are not 'pay and display'


Threep.

True, but if you walk up to the barrier and press the button for a ticket, will the machine dispense one without a car in the entrance. If it will, that will screw up the number of spaces available on the new parking boards. I might pop down tomorrow and give it a go.
If it works and I get a entry ticket Greenmeanie61, have I committed an offence.?  I can't see that I have as I am not defrauding anybody.

Quoted from brian

True, but if you walk up to the barrier and press the button for a ticket, will the machine dispense one without a car in the entrance

Tried it today. Sadly it didn't work. (Northcroft Multi))


Threep.

Quoted from brian

True, but if you walk up to the barrier and press the button for a ticket, will the machine dispense one without a car in the entrance. If it will, that will screw up the number of spaces available on the new parking boards. I might pop down tomorrow and give it a go.
If it works and I get a entry ticket Greenmeanie61, have I committed an offence.?  I can't see that I have as I am not defrauding anybody.

Quoted from Threepwood

Tried it today. Sadly it didn't work. (Northcroft Multi))


Threep.

This is because the system is controlled by ANPR. Have a look at your ticket, and you will see your car registration number. Presumably, if you tried to drive out with a vehicle that does not correspond to your ticket, then alarm bells would start ringing and the barrier would remain closed.

Quoted from BrianB

This is because the system is controlled by ANPR. Have a look at your ticket, and you will see your car registration number. Presumably, if you tried to drive out with a vehicle that does not correspond to your ticket, then alarm bells would start ringing and the barrier would remain closed.

So, if I have a number plate strapped to my left leg, will it dispense a ticket.

I didn't realise it would not dispense a ticket!
Number plate - Interesting thought!

Surely there will be a lop in the ground by the barrier?

Quoted from 78

Surely there will be a lop in the ground by the barrier?

And a Green Meanie with a machine gun?

Quoted from BrianB

And a Green Meanie with a machine gun?

sorry, should have read 'loop'.

If they gave out a ticket without a car no one would need to pay for parking - just go up and get a ticket when you have finished shopping, pubbing, whatever and then drive out within the few minutes a ticket allows you to drive round failing to find a place.

Then that negates the ANPR theory!

Quoted from blackdog

If they gave out a ticket without a car no one would need to pay for parking - just go up and get a ticket when you have finished shopping, pubbing, whatever and then drive out within the few minutes a ticket allows you to drive round failing to find a place.

I see the logic in what you're saying but the barrier won't lift unless you take a ticket and if they really have got npr software and that sounds a bit sophisticated for a car park in Newbury, you have been checked in so not checking out could land you with a bill that will resolve all the combined WBC and SLI financial problems. You could have a car park only number plate. (See Ebay for that) but of course then you are gaining a pecuniary advantage or fraud. Something like that anyway.

Quoted from brian

I see the logic in what you're saying but the barrier won't lift unless you take a ticket and if they really have got npr software and that sounds a bit sophisticated for a car park in Newbury, you have been checked in so not checking out could land you with a bill that will resolve all the combined WBC and SLI financial problems. You could have a car park only number plate. (See Ebay for that) but of course then you are gaining a pecuniary advantage or fraud. Something like that anyway.

I'm not sure what your point is?  The suggestion was that a pedestrian could get the machine to give out a ticket by pressing the button - in such a case the barrier is irrelevant. I rarely use WBC car parks and hadn't noticed that my number plate was printed on the ticket - if it is this has to be by npr.

I have also heard that the barriers lift at some point in the small hours - enabling anyone to leave without paying.  However, I have not been there at that time of the night so I don't know if this is true.

For sure the ticket issued in the Kennet Shopping car park has your number on it. I checked it out today.
In your earlier post, you suggested that you could drive in and park and then go and get another ticket just before you leave. What I was saying was that you couldn't drive in without taking a ticket to lift the barrier and if your number is in the box, you're stuffed.

The barrier will not work without a vehicle sitting at, and activating a sensor at, the barrier.  The ANPR system is used for Disabled driver access only.  These are not  sofisicated systems, ANPR is an old technology now, and is very common in car parks and petrol stations.  RFID number plates are the future,a nd will be coming to a road near you soon!

Barrier access control systems are obviously designed to prevent fraudulant use.  These types of systems have been about for a long time, and all the loop holes have been designed out of the system!  

Quoted from greenmeanie61

The barrier will not work without a vehicle sitting at, and activating a sensor at, the barrier.  The ANPR system is used for Disabled driver access only.  These are not  sofisicated systems, ANPR is an old technology now, and is very common in car parks and petrol stations.  RFID number plates are the future,a nd will be coming to a road near you soon!

Barrier access control systems are obviously designed to prevent fraudulant use.  These types of systems have been about for a long time, and all the loop holes have been designed out of the system!  

Thanks for that Green Meanie.

Perhaps the same system can also be utilised to offer free parking to Council employees?

Quoted from BrianB

Thanks for that Green Meanie.

Perhaps the same system can also be utilised to offer free parking to Council employees?

Surely not? Free parking for council employees in public car parks?

Quoted from BrianB

Thanks for that Green Meanie.

Perhaps the same system can also be utilised to offer free parking to Council employees?

The system allows for the use of a pass or season ticket - so it would be easy to give Council employees a pass.

Quoted from blackdog

The system allows for the use of a pass or season ticket - so it would be easy to give Council employees a pass.

Yes, but they don't do they. If they do, I would hope that it is declared on the individuals tax return, Perks, like tips are taxable.

Quoted from brian

Yes, but they don't do they. If they do, I would hope that it is declared on the individuals tax return, Perks, like tips are taxable.

Psst! Ask them what the top floor of the Kennet Centre car park is used for.  

Quoted from brian

Yes, but they don't do they. If they do, I would hope that it is declared on the individuals tax return, Perks, like tips are taxable.

They do.

But the point you raise is interesting - is car parking a perk?  If I worked for a business in town that had no parking and I was given a parking pass or season ticket by my employer then I guess that would be a taxable perk.

However, if I worked, for instance at an industrial unit in Hambridge Lane no one would bat an eyelid if I told them I could park on my employer's property for free.  If I worked for WBC would it be any different if I need a pass to park on my employer's property?  Do Bayer employess pay extra tax because they need to use a pass to access the Bayer multi-storey car park?

Problem solved, buy you own parking spot.

Quoted from booboo

Problem solved, buy you own parking spot.

No you'd have to give half the income to SLI!!

Still silence from WBDC... It's like Graham Jones refusing to go on the BBC live this morning about job cuts, they can't just handle anything that they feel might generate negative PR. Having a radio presenter challenging you to call him up to give him a proper answer certainly looks worse on Graham and the council, and the silence over parking revenue is damaging too. I guess it's a good thing that we don't have four different explanations like we did on CCTV, but if everything is above board, why the delay in calming fears?

Quoted from richard.garvie

Still silence from WBDC... It's like Graham Jones refusing to go on the BBC live this morning about job cuts, they can't just handle anything that they feel might generate negative PR. Having a radio presenter challenging you to call him up to give him a proper answer certainly looks worse on Graham and the council, and the silence over parking revenue is damaging too. I guess it's a good thing that we don't have four different explanations like we did on CCTV, but if everything is above board, why the delay in calming fears?

They say they are working on getting together some figures?? They obviously know what the deal is and what the figures are?? They are trying to fob off the taxpayers and the press again. If they don't then WBC are no longer fit for purpose!  

I wonder what the shops in the Kennet Centre think about half the ticket money they repay going to boost SLI's coffers?

Quoted from blackdog

I wonder what the shops in the Kennet Centre think about half the ticket money they repay going to boost SLI's coffers?

I though KS is excluded from the car parking deal?  But then do we trust anything the WBC say?

This whole thing is a mess... They don't think they've done anything wrong either!!! It's all another Garvie conspiracy again apparently, even though it was Pangbourne Pam who let the cat out of the bag. I spoke to Keith Ulyat tody, wasn't very chatty  

Quoted from richard.garvie

This whole thing is a mess... They don't think they've done anything wrong either!!! It's all another Garvie conspiracy again apparently, even though it was Pangbourne Pam who let the cat out of the bag. I spoke to Keith Ulyat tody, wasn't very chatty

Don't fret you are not the only one they won't talk to. No one is getting any answers or information. Anyone would think they were not responsible for supplying information to the taxpayers when asked? I mean there has to be something seriously afoot when even Lurkio User is stopped from commenting?  

Has anyone tracked down the paperwork yet? (this is when Phil puts it online and says it was there all along)

http://decisionmaking.westberk.....2008&A=1&R=0

May 15th 2008. Special Council meeting of the executive. No details given on the contents of what was approved.

Quoted from richard.garvie

http://decisionmaking.westberk.....2008&A=1&R=0

May 15th 2008. Special Council meeting of the executive. No details given on the contents of what was approved.

Bit of investigation into the finacial business affairs of a certain person as well.

Will they tell us who? Not likely...

Quoted from richard.garvie

Will they tell us who? Not likely...

No. It's confidential under the Local Government Act 1972. WBC have to state reason anything's being withheld from public view. They use it quite a lot on their arrangements with developers.

Like the time they sold the Queens Road depot to a mate for £1m less than it was worth. But that was the Lib Dems

Well, what's becoming clear is a lot of this mess is driven by officers. Was Nick Carter running the regeneration / vision bits of the council back then?

Quoted from Greenham Common

I though KS is excluded from the car parking deal?  But then do we trust anything the WBC say?

The KC car park is excluded - but the offer (as I understand it) covers all pay on exit WBC car parks, not just the one in the KC.

Quoted from blackdog

The KC car park is excluded - but the offer (as I understand it) covers all pay on exit WBC car parks, not just the one in the KC.

I'm sorry, is this a typing error?

Quoted from Greenham Common

I'm sorry, is this a typing error?

No.

Back on topic, the parking scheme at the Kennet Centre is brilliant. It's similar to what the retailers do in Hungerford, and hopefully people spread the word and support it.

Quoted from blackdog

No.

Quoted from blackdog

The KC car park is excluded - but the offer (as I understand it) covers all pay on exit WBC car parks, not just the one in the KC.

Then is KS carpark a part of the deal or not?  Your statement makes no sense, or is at least ambiguous.

I understand the scheme covers receipts from all town center carparks excluding KS and PW.

Quoted from Greenham Common

Then is KS carpark a part of the deal or not?  Your statement makes no sense, or is at least ambiguous.

I understand the scheme covers receipts from all town center carparks excluding KS and PW.

My statement agreed that the Kennet Centre Park was not part of the WBC/SLI fee share scheme.

But the shops involved in the retailer's parking fee repay scheme do not distinguish between the Kennet Centre park and other WBC pay on exit parks (Northbrook St mulit-storey and the three parks by the Library, behind the museum and by the KFC - all of which are included in the WBC/SLI deal.  So retailers refunding tickets from these four parks will, effectively, be paying money into SLI's coffers.

Quoted from blackdog

My statement agreed that the Kennet Centre Park was not part of the WBC/SLI fee share scheme.

But the shops involved in the retailer's parking fee repay scheme do not distinguish between the Kennet Centre park and other WBC pay on exit parks (Northbrook St mulit-storey and the three parks by the Library, behind the museum and by the KFC - all of which are included in the WBC/SLI deal.  So retailers refunding tickets from these four parks will, effectively, be paying money into SLI's coffers.

Right, now I understand; I had grabbed the wrong end of the stick.