The everyday blog of Richard Bartle.
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12:45pm on Thursday, 3rd April, 2008:
Outburst
Something else that happened while I was in the USA was that Colchester Council decided to increase the cost of parking in town by amounts in the general 20% to 30% range. According to BBC Essex Radio, it was because they wanted to encourage people to take public transport.
Yeah, right. I can just imagine the council meeting: "How can we encourage people to take public transport?"; "Why, that's easy, we reduce bus fares."; "No, wait, I have a better idea: let's increase car parking prices instead!".
Bah! This is all about gaining extra revenue. They may spin it as encouraging people to take public transport, but it's not that at all: they're hoping to get another hundred thousand quid a year into the council's coffers. Never mind that the overall effect will be to reduce the number of people going into Colchester, which will hurt traders: traders pay VAT, which goes to the government; car owners pay car parking fees, which go to the local council.
"How can we encourage people to shop in Clacton?"; "Why, that's easy, we increase bus fares."; "No, wait, I have a better idea: let's increase car parking prices instead!".
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Copyright © 2008 Richard Bartle (richard@mud.co.uk).