Bah Humbug

Humbugs for 'Scrooge' councillors
BBC 24th December 2009

Getting a ticket is unlikely to leave you full of festive cheer
A motorists' group angry about the decision of "Scrooge-like" councils to issue tickets on Boxing Day has given a bag of humbugs to one authority.
Fifteen out of 32 London councils are not recognising 26 December as a bank holiday and will charge as usual.

To protest, London Motorists Action Group (LMAG) has given Westminster Council - with London's highest parking revenue - a bag of mint humbugs.
The council said 26 December is one of the year's busiest shopping days.

But LMAG Director Richard Chaumeton said: "Westminster is the biggest council and should be leading by example and make Boxing Day parking free out of a spirit of goodwill.
"The councillors' Ebenezer Scrooge-like attitude conveys an impression of money-grabbing greed."
Mr Chaumeton added: "We hope they enjoy their humbugs - courtesy of LMAG."

This smacks more of opportunism rather than a desire to keep traffic moving
Neil Herron Parking campaigner

The catchphrase of Charles Dickens' famous Christmas-hating miser Ebenezer Scrooge was: "Bah humbug!"
Westminster Council made £72m from parking last year, more than any other London borough.

Kevin Goad, Westminster Council's head of parking, said: "We understand parking enforcement is not popular but it is necessary - particularly on Boxing Day which is one of the busiest shopping days.
"Normal parking controls will apply on 26 December as it is not a bank holiday.
"We will be offering free parking to motorists on 28 December instead."

Meanwhile Neil Herron, who runs the Parking Appeals website, has promised his services free of charge to anyone ticketed on Saturday.
Of the decision to charge, Mr Herron said: "With all public buildings closed on what is widely regarded as a public holiday by all, this smacks more of opportunism rather than a desire to keep traffic moving."

The following London councils will charge for parking on Saturday:
Barking and Dagenham
Barnet
Bexley
Brent
Bromley
Ealing
Enfield
Hammersmith and Fulham
Haringey
Harrow
Havering
Kensington and Chelsea
Kingston-upon-Thames
Newham
Redbridge

Cynical cash raising ploy

Let us see how the councils attempt to justify this one. They have stated that Saturday 26th December is not a Bank Holiday but the same councils have closed public buildings ... apparently because it is a Bank Holiday. Let us see in the coming weeks what the Freedom of Information requests reveal.

Penalty Claus on Boxing
The Sun
By JANE HAMILTON
Published: 26 Dec 2009

SHOPPERS could be stung at the sales today - by Scrooge officials dishing out parking tickets.
More than three-quarters of councils have decided Boxing Day is NOT a public holiday this year because it falls on a Saturday.

And they are set to clean up as shoppers innocently park without paying in areas signed "public holidays - no charge".
Despite deeming it a non-Bank Holiday, other council services like libraries and swimming pools will be CLOSED.

Last night Paul Pearson of campaign group penaltychargenotice.co.uk blasted the grasping move. He said: "Thousands of motorists will have Christmas tarnished by a £120 ticket.
"Boxing Day is a public holiday - it shouldn't not be a public holiday because it happens to be a Saturday."
Paul said drivers face more confusion because some councils DO recognise today as a public holiday and are not imposing car park fees.

Leeds, for example, in West Yorks is not charging, while their neighbour Bradford is.
In London, half of the 32 councils are allowing free parking - but the policy may not be borough-wide. To add to the muddle nationally, some authorities will waive fees on Monday instead.
Last night Bradford Council said: "Because Boxing Day falls on a weekend, we impose weekend charges."

Read more:

Santa Claus comes early ... free parking for Brighton motorists

Looks like Christmas may come early for beleaguered Brighton motorists targeted relentlessly by NCP Services Parking Attendants on behalf of Brighton Council.

However, the reason why has caused anger amongst the Parking Attendants who are set to go on strike because NCP Services have cancelled the Christmas Party and bonuses.

The GMB Union which represents the Brighton Parking Attendants branded NCP Services 'Scrooge-like.'

NCP Services' 'Tiny Tim' Cowen said "We feel that as one of the most diverse workforces in the UK - employing people from more than 100 countries - it is perhaps not any longer appropriate just to recognise Christmas celebrations."

So there we have it ... NCP Services now joins the PC brigade ... but this time there will be a benefit ... free Christmas Parking in Brighton.

So, NCP doesn't stand for
N ... NO
C ... CHRISTMAS
P ... PARTIES
... unless you are a Parking Attendant.

If you are a motorist it stands for
N ... NICE
C ... CHRISTMAS
P ... PRESENT

Read the full story here in the Brighton Argus