Printable Version of Topic
Click here to view this topic in its original format
Newbury Today Forum _ Newbury News _ Parking 'Wardens'
Posted by: Roost May 28 2009, 07:22 PM
I heard a rumour today. The substance of this was that the newly appointed 21 (?) parking wardens / enforcement officers, employed by West Berks Council at the cost of the tax payer (that'll be you and me folks), are payed in the region of 19k per annum each. Not too sure how I feel about this but by my reckoning (basic though it may be) that's at least £400,000.00 per year, assuming that the number is 21, and also not including training and equipement and uniform costs...............!
Posted by: GMR Jul 31 2009, 11:19 PM
I think it has been well worth it; because of their eventual employment and controversy it has kept this forum and NWN's paper well inked up.
I think for an added show of hands we should all club together and give the bright capitalist, at the council, who thought this idea up a box of chocolates.
Posted by: spartacus Aug 1 2009, 11:38 AM
Oooooh ... you don't say..... Well I never.... I heard Mavis at the hairdressers say there was 46 of them and they're all on a bonus of twenty quid per ticket AND they're on a forty thousand wage 'n all AND they get their choice of swanky car to drive about in.
I wonder if she got her figures wrong?
Or is it that there are now only 15 of them and their wage is in the 17k bracket...
Rumours and forums..... dontcha luv 'em
Posted by: GMR Aug 1 2009, 11:43 AM
Without 'em then what is the point of 'em?
Posted by: lordtup Aug 2 2009, 02:30 PM
Well the answer is simple. If we all became traffic wardens ( I prefer to call them a name not allowed on here ) then not only would it ensure that we all had a car parking space (hardly likely to give ourselves a ticket ),but it also solves the local unemployment problem at a stroke.
£19,000 / annum is not to be sneezed at said the unwell pig.
Posted by: buttonf1 Aug 15 2009, 12:59 PM
i dont think 19k is enough for the amount of abuse they get from arrogant Newburyites. They also walk around the all weathers so why shouldn'\t they get paid well? they're only doing a job after all.
Also bear in mind that the national average wage is close to #24k.
will you lot just shut up!
and another thing, WBC was wasting tax payers money paying useless traffic wardens from the police before the green lot took over so I think they are good value. I oay for residents parking and I can always find a space. LONG LIVE THE WARDENS!!
Posted by: Strafin Aug 15 2009, 01:34 PM
Also bear in mind that the national average wage is close to #24k.
will you lot just shut up!
and another thing, WBC was wasting tax payers money paying useless traffic wardens from the police before the green lot took over so I think they are good value. I oay for residents parking and I can always find a space. LONG LIVE THE WARDENS!!
£24k? You're kidding, where does that figure come from? And just for reference I suspect that that the police paid their employees wages, and WBC pay theirs. I also haven't seen the greenbacks out in the rain, but 'll take your word for it.
Posted by: Bartholomew Aug 15 2009, 05:32 PM
Also bear in mind that the national average wage is close to #24k.
will you lot just shut up!
and another thing, WBC was wasting tax payers money paying useless traffic wardens from the police before the green lot took over so I think they are good value. I oay for residents parking and I can always find a space. LONG LIVE THE WARDENS!!
Good value is subjective. Any way it is calculated now, these "civil enforcement officers" are costing the taxpayers money. They are collecting less than they cost. This was confimed by WBC stating something to the effect of "more fines need to be issued to cover the CEO costs". If money isn't the issue and having West Berkshire residents parking rules strictly enforced, then they could be considered good value.
My view is that there are too many of them for the types and numbers of penalties thay are issuing.
Posted by: GMR Aug 15 2009, 06:34 PM
They will be praying for more traffic crime then.
Posted by: Bartholomew Aug 15 2009, 08:10 PM
As I understand it, CEOs cannot deal with crime or moving traffic offences. This is still the responsibility of the police and PCSOs.
I asked a CEO about a cyclist that cycled through a red light at the Bartholomew Street/Market Street junction, around cars that had stopped for the red light and narrowly avoided hitting a pedestrian. (Incidentally this wasn't a young cyclist - I would put his age at 45). The CEO told me that they have no jurisdiction and couldn't do anything.
This makes me realise that the CEOs are not properly allowed to deal with more serious issues and their narrow remit does little to help in a pedestrian area.
Posted by: GMR Aug 15 2009, 08:15 PM
I asked a CEO about a cyclist that cycled through a red light at the Bartholomew Street/Market Street junction, around cars that had stopped for the red light and narrowly avoided hitting a pedestrian. (Incidentally this wasn't a young cyclist - I would put his age at 45). The CEO told me that they have no jurisdiction and couldn't do anything.
This makes me realise that the CEOs are not properly allowed to deal with more serious issues and their narrow remit does little to help in a pedestrian area.
In other words a waste of space
What I meant by crime was parking tickets.
Posted by: Bartholomew Aug 16 2009, 08:18 AM
What I meant by crime was parking tickets.
Lets get a sensible perspective on this. Rather than the usual extreme forum views of either for or against a view, I believe that the CEOs do fulfill a valid function.
West Bekshire has always had parking restrictions and enforcement. What is wrong with the current setup is that the economics of employing such large numbers of enforcement officers has clouded their real value. It stops them from enforcing the laws in a sensible way and means that they are looking for ways to make money.
So I don't think they are a waste of space, simply mismanaged.
Posted by: GMR Aug 16 2009, 09:25 AM
West Bekshire has always had parking restrictions and enforcement. What is wrong with the current setup is that the economics of employing such large numbers of enforcement officers has clouded their real value. It stops them from enforcing the laws in a sensible way and means that they are looking for ways to make money.
So I don't think they are a waste of space, simply mismanaged.
Actually I wrote a letter in this weeks NWN to say exactly that. Their motivation is to make money to safe guard their jobs. In a town like this 21 is over egging the pudding.
Posted by: Iommi Aug 16 2009, 09:42 AM
CEOs are for West Berkshire, not just Newbury town.
Posted by: Strafin Aug 16 2009, 10:04 AM
I had never had a problem parking in Newbury before the wardens arrived, equally I had never witnessed irresponsible parking or traffic built up as a result of bad parking. Therefore I don't think they are really fulfilling a necessary purpose. However with their being so many changes happeneing all at once in Newbury, it is difficult t tell these days what has changed for better or worse.
Posted by: GMR Aug 16 2009, 10:05 AM
It doesn't seem that way.... and I've NEVER seen one outside Newbury town in all my travels.
Posted by: Iommi Aug 16 2009, 10:09 AM
I have.
Posted by: GMR Aug 16 2009, 10:17 AM
That's one
Posted by: Iommi Aug 16 2009, 10:24 AM
Several, actually!
In Pangbourne and Theale.
Posted by: GMR Aug 16 2009, 10:58 AM
In Pangbourne and Theale.OK.... several is good
Posted by: Bartholomew Aug 16 2009, 01:01 PM
Newbury has always had parking wardens. There were fewer of them and their purpose was to keep the roads clear and not to make money.
For many years, the 2 or 3 wardens unobtrusively did what was needed. Ocassionally there were issues and they weren't available but I found this ok.
I think what has caused the increase in numbers and harder approach is that pedestrianisation has caused traffic issues, especially around the Bear Lane area. Squeezing the motorist out means that there will be more congestion. It is unfortunate that WBC chose this approach to deal with the issues.
Posted by: JeffG Aug 16 2009, 01:17 PM
Translating that into meaningful figures (p.a.), that's £24,900 (mean), £27,000 (male), and £21,400 (female).
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=285
In Pangbourne and Theale.You'll be what they call a seasoned traveller, then.
Posted by: buttonf1 Aug 22 2009, 06:29 PM
i hate all of you. newbury people are insufferable
Posted by: GMR Aug 22 2009, 06:35 PM
That's the spirit my friend
Posted by: Biker1 Aug 22 2009, 07:12 PM
Cam down, calm down it's only a forum!
Posted by: GMR Aug 22 2009, 07:22 PM
Cam down, calm down it's only a forum!
I think he is being paid to put a bit of steel and umph into these boards
Posted by: Sarah Aug 22 2009, 08:04 PM
Ahh thanks, I've always wanted to be insufferable, I shall die happy now.
Posted by: Andy Aug 23 2009, 12:47 AM
Why, what's up buffoon1?
Posted by: Iommi Aug 23 2009, 09:07 AM
Not another West Berkshire Council employee!
Posted by: JeffG Aug 23 2009, 09:39 AM
More likely a traffic warden.
Posted by: GMR Aug 24 2009, 11:32 PM
Or a Taxi driver
Posted by: TallDarkAndHandsome Aug 26 2009, 08:54 AM
Is a job description available from WBC for the role of Civic Enforcement Officer?
I would be interested to see what their role is and whether they are set any targets etc.
Posted by: spartacus Aug 26 2009, 10:15 PM
That sounds like a Freedom of Information request ....
Posted by: Strafin Sep 6 2009, 04:27 PM
I received a ticket almost a year ago for failing to pay and display, (I had bought a ticket and displayed it), and have been fighting it ever since. In court despite having the original ticket still I was found guilty and ordered to pay the fine and all the costs (over £200). The reason for this is that the ticket was not stuck to the windscreen on the drivers side but placed on the passengers side dashboard. The judge said that in here opinion the council were nothing short of bullies for pursuing the matter and that she wished she could be on my side. However although the council were not acting within the spirit of the law, they had the letter of it on their side. I can't afford to pursue it any further but anyone defending these greenback ******** should not be so quick to assume they are only dealing with blatent breaches of the rulings, they are out to get all of us.
Posted by: On the edge Sep 6 2009, 04:35 PM
I think that's shocking. If the Council had any sense of decency or indeed justice, then given the Judges comments, they'd have paid you back. Its these petty fogging mean minded attitudes that get local government such a bad name. They are there to serve.
Posted by: regor Sep 6 2009, 04:57 PM
Talking of injustice, perceived or real, I also got a ticket a couple of years ago.
I had bought an hour ticket and failed to get back in time, 13 minutes overdue.
Well. OK, a minor crime, but fair enough, I was guilty and paid the fine. It was only afterwards that it was pointed out to me that the fine would have been exactly the same if i had not bought a ticket at all and left my vehicle there all day.
Is there no sense of proportionality in these matters?
Posted by: JeffG Sep 6 2009, 05:12 PM
Strafin - that's really mean.
On the other hand there are some councils that are more accomodating. Visiting Windsor one day, I bought a pay-and-display ticket, and put it on the dashboard on the driver's side. When I shut the door it must have blown over, because when I got back, it was upside down and I had a parking ticket.
I wrote to Windsor & Maidenhead council to apologise, explaining what must have happened. I enclosed my ticket as proof that it was valid at the time the parking ticket was issued and they rescinded the fine.
Posted by: Chesapeake Sep 6 2009, 05:45 PM
On the other hand there are some councils that are more accomodating. Visiting Windsor one day, I bought a pay-and-display ticket, and put it on the dashboard on the driver's side. When I shut the door it must have blown over, because when I got back, it was upside down and I had a parking ticket.
I wrote to Windsor & Maidenhead council to apologise, explaining what must have happened. I enclosed my ticket as proof that it was valid at the time the parking ticket was issued and they rescinded the fine.
I think the key to this matter JeffG is the fact that you wrote an appology to the council concerned. They are more likely to be sympathetic if you write an appology rather than writing in anger and start quoting the usual "I pay my taxes, I pay your wages, This is a disgrace, This is a waste of tax payers money Etc. etc. etc........"
Strange that!
Posted by: Iommi Sep 6 2009, 08:59 PM
Just do what I do, don't shop in Newbury. The Retail Park and Tesco cover most bases.
Posted by: Strafin Sep 6 2009, 09:35 PM
Strange that!
How do you know that I didn't? Do you work there? Was it you who pursued it and put me and my wife through months of worry? Wouldn't suprise me, you seem the vindictive type.
Posted by: GMR Sep 6 2009, 09:41 PM
She does know as her husband works there and he keeps his eye on every application and when he typed "Strafin," Mr and Mrs, into the computer it said you didn't. There is no escape my friend from Big Brother and his wife. Not only that but expect a knock on your door and to be whipped for several hours in front of WBC Offices for the amusement of the public and staff.... they can be funny like that.
Posted by: dannyboy Sep 6 2009, 11:51 PM
On the other hand there are some councils that are more accomodating. Visiting Windsor one day, I bought a pay-and-display ticket, and put it on the dashboard on the driver's side. When I shut the door it must have blown over, because when I got back, it was upside down and I had a parking ticket.
I wrote to Windsor & Maidenhead council to apologise, explaining what must have happened. I enclosed my ticket as proof that it was valid at the time the parking ticket was issued and they rescinded the fine.
Oddly I was in Windsor about 5 hours ago. In the short stay car park, over the road from 'Brown's' a car was being clamped. £120 release fee. After we'd eaten & had a wander around town I noticed the car had gone.
btw, we parked for free. a few mins down a side street or two always comes up trumps.
Posted by: dannyboy Sep 6 2009, 11:52 PM
Depends on the baseness of your bases I guess.
Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (http://www.invisionpower.com)