Essex Outfielder : The Unofficial Essex CCC Forum

Cricket => Official Q&A => Topic started by: Perov on July 04, 2014, 01:36:14 PM

Title: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: Perov on July 04, 2014, 01:36:14 PM
Members are to be charged £5 for parking at Colchester for the T/20 match against Kent.
Parking at Colchester has always been free to members, is this a sign of things to come in the future?
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: Starfish on July 04, 2014, 01:47:58 PM
afternoon,

we introduced this small charge just for the T20 at Colchester. We have been imposed with a high charge for car park / traffic management. We all need and want to make the Colchester Festival financially viable. We have kept the free parking (first come, first served) for the LV= game.

With limited parking we are urging Members and public to make use of public transport. We are striving to add value to Membership in all ways possible, the small charge has been made to to help find the balance between that and making the festival more viable

thanks, Danny
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: bwildered on July 04, 2014, 02:03:11 PM
Would suggest the current car parking space available to members at Colchester,  is the same has what is now available during development at the  ECG .
is this charge also applicable to blue card holders and committee members ?
For those coming by train, Colchester North / Main station , head towards town, turn left by the Albert Pub,  after crossing roundabout , towards fire station and take road that runs down by the side. Fifteen minute walk.
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: Perov on July 04, 2014, 02:15:56 PM
I agree we all want the Colchester Festival to remain viable.
I just hope the "traffic management"  includes a no right turn sign at the top of Catchpole Road - particularly on the Saturday.
People trying to turn right hold up the queue trying to leave the ground and it takes ages for them to get accross to lanes of traffic.
They can go left, up to the roundabout and swing back round, therefore keeping the queue from the ground moving.
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: Starfish on July 04, 2014, 02:19:53 PM
Would suggest the current car parking space available to members at Colchester,  is the same has what is now available during development at the  ECG .
is this charge also applicable to blue card holders and committee members ?
For those coming by train, Colchester North / Main station , head towards town, turn left by the Albert Pub,  after crossing roundabout , towards fire station and take road that runs down by the side. Fifteen minute walk.

Disabled Members can park for free, subject to spaces
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: stickyboy on July 04, 2014, 03:31:39 PM
 I presumed the £5 would help cover the extra police charges for patrolling this park of late!
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: bwildered on July 04, 2014, 05:36:31 PM
Due  to circumstances in the last couple of months / weeks more police around the area than at a Christmas Ball.
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: nat on July 04, 2014, 10:01:30 PM
Much as we all don't want extra charges on top of the membership fee let's suck this one up and move on.
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: Slogger on July 06, 2014, 09:52:43 AM
Glad I'm not going! It makes the £30, including travel, to go to the T20 double header at Lords in May with my lad, even better value. I shall be there on Sunday and Monday though.
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: nat on July 06, 2014, 12:11:12 PM
Glad I'm not going! It makes the £30, including travel, to go to the T20 double header at Lords in May with my lad, even better value. I shall be there on Sunday and Monday though.

So paying an extra £5 (between the two of you) stops you going to the game? Hope you'll be pleased when the Colchester festival is long gone.
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: stickyboy on July 06, 2014, 04:58:53 PM
So paying an extra £5 (between the two of you) stops you going to the game? Hope you'll be pleased when the Colchester festival is long gone.
If they charged a £5 at Garons everyone would have been up in arms! Agree with Slogger. To be honest would rather they just dumped Colchester and played at Chelmsford
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: eastsax on July 06, 2014, 07:08:34 PM
So paying an extra £5 (between the two of you) stops you going to the game? Hope you'll be pleased when the Colchester festival is long gone.
If they charged a £5 at Garons everyone would have been up in arms! Agree with Slogger. To be honest would rather they just dumped Colchester and played at Chelmsford

Not that I've never been in a minority of one, nor even missed the cricket aesthetic on occasions  - but your stance probably takes the biscuit on all counts.
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: firehazard on July 06, 2014, 07:10:32 PM
So paying an extra £5 (between the two of you) stops you going to the game? Hope you'll be pleased when the Colchester festival is long gone.
If they charged a £5 at Garons everyone would have been up in arms! Agree with Slogger. To be honest would rather they just dumped Colchester and played at Chelmsford

Chelmsford, where there's no parking so that solves the problem. Wouldn't mind paying  that amount for the convenient parking at Colchester.
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: stickyboy on July 06, 2014, 07:12:45 PM
Not that I've never been in a minority of one, nor even missed the cricket aesthetic on occasions  - but your stance probably takes the biscuit on all counts.

The first quote was Sloggers - not mine.

Why should i want Essex to play at Colchester? I live in Southend and much prefer they play at Chelmsford as better, cheaper and nearer etc for me. Your from Colchester and you have vested interest and was involved in the Anti-Garons scandel on the official forum
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: stickyboy on July 06, 2014, 07:13:50 PM
Chelmsford, where there's no parking so that solves the problem. Wouldn't mind paying  that amount for the convenient parking at Colchester.
I use Meteor Way which is free parking  and much prefer playing cricket at proper grounds than notorious parks like Castle Park!
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: vim on July 06, 2014, 07:21:15 PM
One day someone will do the sums and work out that the loss on the Colchester festival is more than the money from cancelled memberships of disgruntled members if the festival was scrapped.
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: nat on July 06, 2014, 07:24:24 PM
One day someone will do the sums and work out that the loss on the Colchester festival is more than the money from cancelled memberships of disgruntled members if the festival was scrapped.

Er, ... run that past me again.
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: eastsax on July 06, 2014, 07:25:31 PM
Not that I've never been in a minority of one, nor even missed the cricket aesthetic on occasions  - but your stance probably takes the biscuit on all counts.

The first quote was Sloggers - not mine.

Why should i want Essex to play at Colchester? I live in Southend and much prefer they play at Chelmsford as better, cheaper and nearer etc for me. Your from Colchester and you have vested interest and was involved in the Anti-Garons scandel on the official forum

Not liking Garons Park is not the issue , parking at the Castle Park is. I happen to know of people from Southend who also value the Colchester Festival and have no problem travelling the 40 miles, or so, for the privilege. A fiver for parking at our idyllic venue seems very little considering the,e.g. £15 paid at Canterbury.

But of course no-one is forcing you to attend  in any case. :)
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: stickyboy on July 06, 2014, 07:25:37 PM
Er, ... run that past me again.
Its simple, use your brain
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: eastsax on July 06, 2014, 07:35:02 PM
Two complete.y irrelevant and off topic posts have been removed.
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: Mick on July 06, 2014, 07:54:12 PM
Two complete.y irrelevant and off topic posts have been removed.

Couldn't you have moved them somewhere else. I don't like to see posts deleted especially in an argument where the moderator has strong feelings.

Anyway, back on subject, if the Club is actually going to incur significant extra costs due the exceptionally high numbers expected to attend the T20 thing, it is not unreasonable that they should seek to recoup said costs from those attending the T20. This they are doing and they are not applying a charge for members to park on the other days. Can't see the problem myself.
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: eastsax on July 06, 2014, 08:04:26 PM
Two complete.y irrelevant and off topic posts have been removed.

Couldn't you have moved them somewhere else.

No. Because the comments had nothing to do with cricket.
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: BlueEagles on July 06, 2014, 08:41:54 PM
afternoon,

we introduced this small charge just for the T20 at Colchester. We have been imposed with a high charge for car park / traffic management. We all need and want to make the Colchester Festival financially viable. We have kept the free parking (first come, first served) for the LV= game.

With limited parking we are urging Members and public to make use of public transport. We are striving to add value to Membership in all ways possible, the small charge has been made to to help find the balance between that and making the festival more viable

thanks, Danny



Danny,

Please explain why loyal members are being charged the same amount as non members, for parking at the T20 game against Kent?



Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: Valentines Park on July 07, 2014, 09:27:01 AM
involved in the Anti-Garons scandel on the official forum

What scandal was that?

Apart from Barren Park being a scandal in & of itself of course.
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: Starfish on July 07, 2014, 09:42:18 AM
afternoon,

we introduced this small charge just for the T20 at Colchester. We have been imposed with a high charge for car park / traffic management. We all need and want to make the Colchester Festival financially viable. We have kept the free parking (first come, first served) for the LV= game.

With limited parking we are urging Members and public to make use of public transport. We are striving to add value to Membership in all ways possible, the small charge has been made to to help find the balance between that and making the festival more viable

thanks, Danny



Danny,

Please explain why loyal members are being charged the same amount as non members, for parking at the T20 game against Kent?


Morning, thanks for comment, the reality is we expect the vast majority of people parking will be Members. The £5 flat fee removes the need (in most cases) for change to be given, reducing queues etc. thanks

Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: Slogger on July 07, 2014, 06:35:29 PM
I'm a huge fan of the Colchester festival (usually the best week of the year) but really have no interest in the T20 game - my point was it's an additional cost when compared to other venues such as Lords and The Oval. I do think that charging for members is an erosion of the membership package though and needs to be watched. Will parking charges be the norm after Chelmsford is re-developed? That won't be a huge deal for me because I usually travel by train but it would mean that I would think twice about popping up to Chelmsford for a few hours on  a weekend afternoon, which is how my lad sees most of his cricket after he's played in the morning.

As far as I'm concerned the festival is pretty sub - optimal this year because it's played outside the school summer holidays. That impacts on both me and my lad getting there - we usually go for at least 4 of the 5 days. This year we can manage Sunday after lunch and I can manage a day's holiday on Monday to go too.
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: Postman on July 07, 2014, 07:54:18 PM
"Will parking charges be the norm after Chelmsford is re-developed?"

Yes, unless Meteor Way is still available, and you'll pay Chelmsford Council rather than ECC. There will clearly be next to no parking in the redeveloped ground once the New Writtle St carpark is built on. . And just to get everyone ready for this, it's clear that the club's policy is to discourage people from parking there at present-the steward told me last week that he has no idea how many spaces will be available each day until he gets to work in the morning, nobody tells him how many assorted bigwigs and freeloaders are expected even though this must be known in advance.

I'm still unable to understand why the Council can't do a long term deal on Meteor Way, ie say a 10 year lease for a specific number of days each year. The Park and Ride is ok when it operates but that doesn't help on Sundays.
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: squarelegumpire on July 08, 2014, 06:02:52 AM
I thought there was going to be a car park as part of the development. Or is that one of those features that changes over time?
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: Valentines Park on July 08, 2014, 08:17:24 AM
Or is that one of those features that changes over time?

I wonder how many fag packets the club have drawn up plans on?

Must be at least the equivalent of 200 B+H ;)
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: BlueEagles on July 10, 2014, 07:11:42 PM
afternoon,

we introduced this small charge just for the T20 at Colchester. We have been imposed with a high charge for car park / traffic management. We all need and want to make the Colchester Festival financially viable. We have kept the free parking (first come, first served) for the LV= game.

With limited parking we are urging Members and public to make use of public transport. We are striving to add value to Membership in all ways possible, the small charge has been made to to help find the balance between that and making the festival more viable

thanks, Danny



Danny,

Please explain why loyal members are being charged the same amount as non members, for parking at the T20 game against Kent?


Morning, thanks for comment, the reality is we expect the vast majority of people parking will be Members. The £5 flat fee removes the need (in most cases) for change to be given, reducing queues etc. thanks

Danny,

To clarify, the issue is not the £5 fee, it's the fact that us loyal members are being charged exactly the same amount as the casual Essex supporter or those from Kent, who have the temerity to charge us £15 when we visit Canterbury. Why not charge non members £10? 
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: Starfish on July 10, 2014, 07:15:00 PM
Thanks for post, I can understand your point, we expect the absolute vast majority of people parking to be Members.

It is something we will review for future years, we wanted to keep the charge simple. Thanks
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: essexfan548 on July 10, 2014, 07:32:49 PM
Keeping it simple would mean no charge at all.

I have read the reasons and they seem pretty feeble - money can be made from sale of drinks, food, programmes etc.

Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: Mick on July 10, 2014, 07:47:03 PM
Thanks for post, I can understand your point, we expect the absolute vast majority of people parking to be Members.

It is something we will review for future years, we wanted to keep the charge simple. Thanks

Danny, not saying you're wrong but given we know how many (few?) members we have and how many tickets have been sold on what do you base your expectations of an "absolute vast majority" of members using the car park, especially as you've advertised it to all and sundry on the website.

Anyway T20's not part of the membership package (other than discounted tickets) and if real traffic management costs are incurred I don't see why those costs shouldn't be defrayed amongst all attending the ground by car.

Glad the ground is looking good and looking forward to my visit on Sunday. Getting my things together already: membership card, binoculars, sun hat, sun cream, lunch...
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: Mog on July 10, 2014, 08:11:43 PM
I thought there was going to be a car park as part of the development. Or is that one of those features that changes over time?

The "car park as part of the development" will also form part of the parking allocation for the apartment dwellers, so you can envisage the likely conflict. If the original plans, released some six years ago now are to be believed, a multi-storey car park will be constructed on the site of the former council owned car-park on New Writtle Street, adjacent to ECCC's main entrance.
As the massing of the apartment blocks will be such that there will be insufficient space for residents of said Vanity Project to all park at ground level, especially at the River End aspect of the development, they will gain use to the multi-storey car park. This all assumes, of course, that is structure is ever built. I can only see a trade off between a limited number of those available spaces being alloted, on a first-come-first served to cricket patrons - undoubtedly at a charge. I'd suggest 30-35% as a guideline.
I wonder if this is another aspect of this development the Club will be using their promised consultative process for?
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: nat on July 10, 2014, 08:17:16 PM
I thought there was going to be a car park as part of the development. Or is that one of those features that changes over time?

The "car park as part of the development" will also form part of the parking allocation for the apartment dwellers, so you can envisage the likely conflict. If the original plans, released some six years ago now are to be believed, a multi-storey car park will be constructed on the site of the former council owned car-park on New Writtle Street, adjacent to ECCC's main entrance.
As the massing of the apartment blocks will be such that there will be insufficient space for residents of said Vanity Project to all park at ground level, especially at the River End aspect of the development, they will gain use to the multi-storey car park. This all assumes, of course, that is structure is ever built. I can only see a trade off between a limited number of those available spaces being alloted, on a first-come-first served to cricket patrons - undoubtedly at a charge. I'd suggest 30-35% as a guideline.
I wonder if this is another aspect of this development the Club will be using their promised consultative process for?

Look you wrinklies will just have to fit a half-track to your mobility scooters for the short hop from Meteor Way.
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: Perov on July 12, 2014, 06:16:32 PM
I agree we all want the Colchester Festival to remain viable.
I just hope the "traffic management"  includes a no right turn sign at the top of Catchpole Road - particularly on the Saturday.
People trying to turn right hold up the queue trying to leave the ground and it takes ages for them to get accross to lanes of traffic.
They can go left, up to the roundabout and swing back round, therefore keeping the queue from the ground moving.

Thanks for having that system in place  Danny. I was able to make a quick getaway from the car park. It worked well.
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: Mick on July 12, 2014, 06:37:51 PM
I agree we all want the Colchester Festival to remain viable.
I just hope the "traffic management"  includes a no right turn sign at the top of Catchpole Road - particularly on the Saturday.
People trying to turn right hold up the queue trying to leave the ground and it takes ages for them to get accross to lanes of traffic.
They can go left, up to the roundabout and swing back round, therefore keeping the queue from the ground moving.

Thanks for having that system in place  Danny. I was able to make a quick getaway from the car park. It worked well.

A fiver well spent then !
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: squarelegumpire on July 12, 2014, 07:14:50 PM
I thought there was going to be a car park as part of the development. Or is that one of those features that changes over time?

The "car park as part of the development" will also form part of the parking allocation for the apartment dwellers, so you can envisage the likely conflict. If the original plans, released some six years ago now are to be believed, a multi-storey car park will be constructed on the site of the former council owned car-park on New Writtle Street, adjacent to ECCC's main entrance.
As the massing of the apartment blocks will be such that there will be insufficient space for residents of said Vanity Project to all park at ground level, especially at the River End aspect of the development, they will gain use to the multi-storey car park. This all assumes, of course, that is structure is ever built. I can only see a trade off between a limited number of those available spaces being alloted, on a first-come-first served to cricket patrons - undoubtedly at a charge. I'd suggest 30-35% as a guideline.
I wonder if this is another aspect of this development the Club will be using their promised consultative process for?

Look you wrinklies will just have to fit a half-track to your mobility scooters for the short hop from Meteor Way.

Don't quite require a mobility scooter yet, Nat! I am though bothered that the Meteor Way field won't be available when (or if) the new development comes to pass. Mog is I'm sure right; there won't be enough space for both us and for the occupants of the flats when the building is finished. After all, it's envisaged that most of the occupants will be leaving their Ferraris in the Garage while they commute to Docklands by train.
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: Blocky on July 17, 2014, 01:21:08 PM
I thought there was going to be a car park as part of the development. Or is that one of those features that changes over time?

The "car park as part of the development" will also form part of the parking allocation for the apartment dwellers, so you can envisage the likely conflict. If the original plans, released some six years ago now are to be believed, a multi-storey car park will be constructed on the site of the former council owned car-park on New Writtle Street, adjacent to ECCC's main entrance.
As the massing of the apartment blocks will be such that there will be insufficient space for residents of said Vanity Project to all park at ground level, especially at the River End aspect of the development, they will gain use to the multi-storey car park. This all assumes, of course, that is structure is ever built. I can only see a trade off between a limited number of those available spaces being alloted, on a first-come-first served to cricket patrons - undoubtedly at a charge. I'd suggest 30-35% as a guideline.
I wonder if this is another aspect of this development the Club will be using their promised consultative process for?

Look you wrinklies will just have to fit a half-track to your mobility scooters for the short hop from Meteor Way.

careful mate!  they know where you live..... ;)
Title: Re: Members charged for Parking.
Post by: Andy on July 17, 2014, 01:38:46 PM
I thought there was going to be a car park as part of the development. Or is that one of those features that changes over time?

The "car park as part of the development" will also form part of the parking allocation for the apartment dwellers, so you can envisage the likely conflict. If the original plans, released some six years ago now are to be believed, a multi-storey car park will be constructed on the site of the former council owned car-park on New Writtle Street, adjacent to ECCC's main entrance.
As the massing of the apartment blocks will be such that there will be insufficient space for residents of said Vanity Project to all park at ground level, especially at the River End aspect of the development, they will gain use to the multi-storey car park. This all assumes, of course, that is structure is ever built. I can only see a trade off between a limited number of those available spaces being alloted, on a first-come-first served to cricket patrons - undoubtedly at a charge. I'd suggest 30-35% as a guideline.
I wonder if this is another aspect of this development the Club will be using their promised consultative process for?

Look you wrinklies will just have to fit a half-track to your mobility scooters for the short hop from Meteor Way.

careful mate!  they know where you live..... ;)

Yes, then you'll get there and forget why you...erm...er...what was I saying again???