How low will they stoop?, Parking charges on New Year's Day Options

[BMR]

Just how low will West Berkshire Council stoop. I stopped in one of the nearly empty car parks in Newbury today (New Year's Day) to see the Green Goblin putting parking tickets on a number of cars which had not paid for parking tickets. Yes - since 1st January is on a Saturday, it is not a Bank Holiday, and therefore, as the sign confirms, "Normal parking charges apply". Come on. It is New Year's Day.

I was fortunate - I saw the Green Goblin, and since I only had 20 minutes before meeting someone, I beat a hasty retreat, and left the car park. Many others were less fortunate, and got a surprise when they got back to their cars.

So, I have made a New Year resolution. I won't pay for a parking ticket in Newbury. Either I will shop when I can park for free, or I will go to the various retail parks, or I will go to Reading or Basingstoke.

Happy New Year.

[Richard Garvie]

All retail staff got paid extra yesterday as Xmas Day, New Years and Easter are classed as bank holidays. I didn't know if it was retail specific or if it applied to all sectors. If it does, that would suggest yesterday was in fact a bank holiday.

GMR, I simply suggesting that with no bus or train, and the high cost of taxi's which not everybody can afford, some people could be stupid enough to drive home. It happens all through the year, not just Christmas and New Year. At Christmas and New Year, we should be doing everything to discourage drink driving.