Car Parks

[bwildered]

Three recent robberies on  car parks was the reason given on the introduction on cashless payments on contact with the Council . Pity the Council did not inform the public  on this very sudden introduction with many having a wasted journey to Chelmsford , like myself.
However it is only a trial at present and is under review at the end of September, but without your views this policy will no doubt continue given the total disregard to us, it's customer /visitors. 

So just a reminder - Meteor Way is only open on the first day of the final match, so do not forget your credit cards for the remaining .

[nat]

Three recent robberies on  car parks was the reason given on the introduction on cashless payments ...

Bunch of criminals in Essex.

[Observer]

I recently registered for the Pay by Phone scheme operated by the Council. The process is pretty simple.

Once registered you send a text to 65565 stating the car park number (found on the car park notice board) the time you want to stay (eg 1d = 24hr 1h = 1 hour etc) and the 3 digit number on the back of your credit card. You then get a text back within a few minutes to confirming your booking.

The downside..

I did a test on the car park at Baddow Road, the council website says it costs £1 for one hour. When I received my text confirmation I was billed £1.30 for that hour, 20p VAT and 10p service charge were added

[Diatribe]

Once registered you send a text to 65565 stating the car park number (found on the car park notice board) the time you want to stay (eg 1d = 24hr 1h = 1 hour etc) and the 3 digit number on the back of your credit card. You then get a text back within a few minutes to confirming your booking.

All of which wouldn't be much use to someone like me who doesn't have, or never has had a cell phone or credit card. Cell phones and credit cards are tracking and surveillance devices, one may as well be walking around with a GPS attachment implanted in their torso.

At least 70% of our current prison population, including those serving serious sentences, ie 25 yrs. upwards are incarcerated courtesy of their mobile phone and credit card records. Long gone are the times when our finest had to rely on fitting life's casualties up with incriminating, fictitious conversations compiled in the police canteen without ever even interviewing the subject.

Were he unfortunate enough to be alive today, Samuel Pepys would be redundant and stacking shelves on a supermacado workfare programme whilst signing on Jobseeker's allowance.

[squarelegumpire]

I recently registered for the Pay by Phone scheme operated by the Council. The process is pretty simple.

Once registered you send a text to 65565 stating the car park number (found on the car park notice board) the time you want to stay (eg 1d = 24hr 1h = 1 hour etc) and the 3 digit number on the back of your credit card. You then get a text back within a few minutes to confirming your booking.

The downside..

I did a test on the car park at Baddow Road, the council website says it costs £1 for one hour. When I received my text confirmation I was billed £1.30 for that hour, 20p VAT and 10p service charge were added

Does it say anywhere on the notices that VAT and service charge are added? IIRC the automated machine at Freeport Braintree warns one about a service charge, but I don't think there's any VAT involved, or it there is, the management has taken it into account in setting the charge.
If it doesn't, the County Trading Standards should be interested.

Later note; No mention of VAT on the website. VAT charge is possibly illegal. Website does say 20p service charge, though.

[Andy]

I've never paid to park at Freeport?!

[squarelegumpire]

I've never paid to park at Freeport?!

It's a useful place to park when going on a coach* trip from the Braintree area. Regular pick up point. Under those circumstances one needs to pay when parking for more five or six hours.

*Diatribe, you probably know it as a charabanc trip!

[Perov]

The New Writtle St car park closes to the public from 1st October, and will at some stage, be taken over by Essex CCC.
The members car park inside the ground will be closed as the building work on the first phase of the new flats gets underway.

I did hear that, allegedly, many of the flats in the first phase have been bought by Newham Council for  "social housing".
Whatever happens, I think parking could be a problem next season.

[vim]

The New Writtle St car park closes to the public from 1st October, and will at some stage, be taken over by Essex CCC.
The members car park inside the ground will be closed as the building work on the first phase of the new flats gets underway.

I did hear that, allegedly, many of the flats in the first phase have been bought by Newham Council for  "social housing".
Whatever happens, I think parking could be a problem next season.

The man in the big coat in the River Stand, who appears to be a private landlord. Stated that parking was academic, as when the flats were build and occupied. You would not want to park your vehicle anywhere near them, if you were wise.

Did he know something?

[nat]

The New Writtle St car park closes to the public from 1st October, and will at some stage, be taken over by Essex CCC.
The members car park inside the ground will be closed as the building work on the first phase of the new flats gets underway.

I did hear that, allegedly, many of the flats in the first phase have been bought by Newham Council for  "social housing".
Whatever happens, I think parking could be a problem next season.

The man in the big coat in the River Stand, who appears to be a private landlord. Stated that parking was academic, as when the flats were build and occupied. You would not want to park your vehicle anywhere near them, if you were wise.

Did he know something?

I don't know ...
...
I'm sure there will be some young kids willing to 'look after' your car for a small fee...make sure it doesn't come to any harm!

[squarelegumpire]

The New Writtle St car park closes to the public from 1st October, and will at some stage, be taken over by Essex CCC.
The members car park inside the ground will be closed as the building work on the first phase of the new flats gets underway.

I did hear that, allegedly, many of the flats in the first phase have been bought by Newham Council for  "social housing".
Whatever happens, I think parking could be a problem next season.

It was indeed officially stated that some had gone for social housing, although no actual provider thereof was mentioned.

[Andy]

Social housing? Presumably there would be no difficulty in selling the apartments on the open market in commuter Essex, so this was perhaps part of the 'sweeteners' necessary to get the development through with the planning authorities??

[firehazard]

Social housing? Presumably there would be no difficulty in selling the apartments on the open market in commuter Essex, so this was perhaps part of the 'sweeteners' necessary to get the development through with the planning authorities??

That's fairly normal practice, isn't it? Most planning authorities ask for a certain proportion of low-cost or social housing to be included in new developments, round these parts, anyway.

[squarelegumpire]

Social housing? Presumably there would be no difficulty in selling the apartments on the open market in commuter Essex, so this was perhaps part of the 'sweeteners' necessary to get the development through with the planning authorities??

That's fairly normal practice, isn't it? Most planning authorities ask for a certain proportion of low-cost or social housing to be included in new developments, round these parts, anyway.

Think that's right.