‘Fairer’ fines under fire

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

The two-tier system of parking fines introduced in July 2007 is being criticised by many as a cynical measure to rake in more revenue for London’s councils.

But London Councils, who spearheaded the scheme, said it had public backing and people were in favour of the heavier penalties for offences of a more potentially dangerous nature.

The system sets some fines at £80 while the more serious offences – such as parking on zigzag lines, parking in a bus lane, making a banned right turn – result in a £120 fine. Over the year that the new system has been in operation, councils have issued three times more fines at the higher charge – that is, almost 3 million £120 fines compared to 900,000 £80 fines.

While initially praised by many London councils when it was first introduced, the system is now seen by its critics as a cynical scheme aimed at increasing parking revenue while appearing to be fairer on motorists.

The total value of tickets issued in 2007–2008 was £40 million higher than it would have been under the old system with a flat £50 fine, so the reason for such criticism is understandable  (although the amount councils actually received will have been somewhat less since a 50% discount is applied if tickets are paid within 14 days).

Parking campaigner Barrie Segal criticised the scheme, saying, “At the launch they were saying this would be a fairer system for motorists. But it actually gave them the chance to substantially increase the fine for everyday offences such as stopping on a single yellow line.” He challenged councils “to prove they did not make projections at the time showing this system would raise revenue”.

This view was echoed by London taxi driver Joe Cartwright, who said, “It is an obvious PR stunt. They want to make themselves look better while making as much money as possible from the motorist.”

As councils bring in ever more measures to boost revenue, one way motorists can escape the plethora of parking and other restrictions is to obtain season parking tickets, from firms such as 24 7 Parking, which provide convenient and hassle-free parking at many locations across London.

For press enquiries, please contact Peter Cooper on 020 7183 7247
Email: info@247parking.com
Web: www.247parking.com

News provided by 24 7 Parking Ltd, a leading marketing services provider to the car parking industry in the UK, and a leading de facto marketplace for buyers and sellers, or lessees and lessors, of car parking spaces.

24 7 Parking carries out daily surveys of the national media to provide up-to-date news and commentary on UK transport.

Re-phasing lights to improve traffic flow

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

Traffic lights across London are to be re-phased as part of a wider programme aimed at reducing road congestion, announced Transport for London (TfL) this week. The changes will involve the installation of technology to monitor traffic levels and adjust the lights accordingly.Some of the major intersections to have their signal timings reviewed are Trafalgar Square, Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner.

Getting to work will be a challenge as tube strike looms

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Following the collapse of talks between the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and London Underground (LU) on Monday morning, London’s underground network faced a complete shutdown for two days starting on Tuesday evening.

A raft of alternative transport measures have been announced by London’s mayor Boris Johnson to help the 3 million commuters who normally use the tube to get to work.

The city is providing 100 extra buses and a free riverboat service, which will run from London Bridge to Tower Bridge, with a peak-hour free shuttle between the London Eye and Tower Bridge. There will also be additional services on existing riverboat routes to boost capacity from 1,500 to 8,000 an hour.

Extra parking for bicycles will be provided in the city centre, while offices and businesses are also expected to allow cycle parking space in foyers and reception areas. Transport for London (TfL) will bring in fixed-fare taxi sharing from the six main rail stations during the morning rush hour, and experts from the London Cycling Campaign will assist cyclists on routes from railway stations across the city. Oyster cards, normally valid only on tubes and buses, will be accepted on all transport services.

Maps of walking routes will also be distributed at hundreds of central rail and tube stations.

The congestion charge will remain in place to dissuade commuters from swamping the city with cars. Commuters who have no alternative other than driving to work may opt for buying season parking tickets from parking companies such as 24 7, which will also provide peace of mind in the event of any further strikes.

London overground services and Docklands Light Railway will be operating as normal.

The strike was called over pay issues and possible job redundancies. Around 3,000 RMT members – a minority of the total membership – voted in favour of a strike. The union was calling for a 5% pay rise and an assurance of no forced redundancies, in response to which LU offered a 4-year deal of a 1.5% pay rise this year and then the inflation rate plus 0.5%, or a 2-year deal of 1% now and inflation plus 0.5% next year.

An angry Boris Johnson called the strike a “ludicrous and unnecessary disruption to our city” which “will not move the prospect of a deal an inch closer”.

According to the business group London First, the strike will cost the London economy around £100 million, aside from the incalculable effects of bad publicity – not for the first time will visitors and investors take away the message that London’s transport systems are unreliable.

 

For press enquiries, please contact Peter Cooper on 020 7183 7247
Email: info@247parking.com
Web: www.247parking.com

News provided by 24 7 Parking Ltd, a leading marketing services provider to the car parking industry in the UK, and a leading de facto marketplace for buyers and sellers, or lessees and lessors, of car parking spaces.

24 7 Parking carries out daily surveys of the national media to provide up-to-date news and commentary on UK transport.

 

 

Tube strike announced for June

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

London commuters are bracing themselves for travel chaos following the announcement by tube workers of an all-out two-day strike which will bring virtually the whole tube network to a standstill. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union voted overwhelmingly for a 48-hour strike starting at 6.59 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9th and ending at 6.58 on Thursday, June 11th.  The walk-out has been called in protest over pay disputes, job losses and working conditions.The RMT union is accusing London Underground and Transport for London bosses of tearing up an agreement aimed at safeguarding jobs, as well as not addressing pay issues and refusing to rule out compulsory redundancies. On the pay dispute, a RMT statement said, “London Underground has refused to budge from an unacceptable five-year pay offer that gives no real-terms increase for four years, and which could even see pay cut.”
“London Underground has refused to budge from an unacceptable five-year pay offer that gives no real-terms increase for four years, and which could even see pay cut.”On its part, TfL accused the union of unrealistically calling for pay rises during a recession and for demanding guarantees for jobs that were no longer needed. TfL’s chief operating officer Howard Collins said, “the RMT leadership knows full well we are seeking to end the duplication of back office jobs and that no front line staff will be affected. No responsible union should be asking hard-pressed farepayers and taxpayers to fund jobs that are no longer needed and vastly inflated pay demands.” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that the ballot in favour of strike action reflects the anger of tube workers, and that it was up to LU and TfL management to resolve the confrontation by withdrawing their plans to cut jobs and addressing the pay issues.With both sides firmly entrenched in their respective positions, the only thing that looks certain is that London commuters will bear the brunt of the network shut-down and will have to find alternative transport for getting to work. And many will no doubt be worrying if further stoppages lie ahead this summer, if the union and tube bosses fail to reach an early resolution to the dispute.

Commuters faced with travelling by car during the tube strike will encounter what is certain to be a parking nightmare in the city. With the prospect of further strikes throughout the summer, many may choose to avoid these transport and parking problems by obtaining a long term parking space from parking companies such as 24 7 Parking.

For press enquiries, please contact Peter Cooper on 020 7183 7247
Email: info@247parking.com
Web: www.247parking.com News provided by 24 7 Parking Ltd, a leading marketing services provider to the car parking industry in the UK, and a leading de facto marketplace for buyers and sellers, or lessees and lessors, of car parking spaces.24 7 Parking carries out daily surveys of the national media to provide up-to-date news and commentary on UK transport.