Bazj Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 When is the free xmas parking in Warrington? Is there any?.... found this about Sefton Council; seems they are listening to their electorate! The Leader of Sefton Council has delivered an early Christmas present for shoppers and businesses – with the introduction of a series of free parking incentives. In a bid to boost business across the borough, Sefton Council has made it free to park all day in its car parks and ‘on-street’ parking spaces on Saturdays, December 7, 14 and 21. Park and ride Services will also be free all day on Saturdays as the council strives to support the aims of Small Business Saturday. On top of this, Sefton will also make it free to park in its car parks and ‘on-street’ parking spaces after 3pm on Thursday, December 12 and 19. Park and ride services will also be free after 3pm on these Thursdays. The aim is to give a shot in the arm for shops and traders who continue to struggle with the national and global economic downturn. It is hoped that people will make the most of the offer in the run up to Christmas to take advantage of the festive atmosphere and enjoy the many facilities and attractions Sefton’s town centres offer – alongside its fantastic retail outlets. Businesses are being asked to encourage their staff not to fill up the free spaces throughout the trial so as much room as possible will be available for shoppers and visitors. It is hoped staff might instead use the free park and ride services. The concession is expected to cost the council around £30,000 which will be met from a ‘priorities fund’ that has been set aside to support town centres and the local economy Cllr Peter Dowd, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “We wanted to be able to do something to support our town centres in the run up to Christmas as they face increasing competition from online retailers alongside continually difficult economic conditions. “We are currently working on a review of parking across the borough and have spoken with a number of different business people while we are doing that. We have listened to what they have been telling us and believe it is time to try something different. We all understand the need to balance the regulation of parking, to free up spaces and keep trade turning over, versus the cost to the shopper or visitor. “And that is exactly why we are carrying out this pilot to give something back, to show we are listening and hopefully help our borough make the most out of the Christmas period. “We also understand that this might cause a bit of confusion for some people and we would normally take more time over such things. But I want Sefton Council to ‘get out and do it’ when we have an idea which we feel will genuinely help our businesses and residents. It will cost a relatively small amount of money to do this and there might be a few issues along the way. But we should not always shy away from risk if there is something out there which might help – and I genuinely do hope this will help.” Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton’s Cabinet Member for Transportation, said: “This will be an added incentive for people to leave their computer screens in the run up to Christmas and enjoy the fabulous restaurants, bars, coffee shops, theatres, cinemas and other attractions which make our town centres so diverse and interesting. “We have listened to the views of businesses and residents and we continue to listen, so hopefully this Christmas present will be a welcome one for everyone. It is always a difficult balance to get parking rules right, but we should learn a lot of lessons from this pilot to help us continue to shape our thinking for the future.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Baz, Sefton council are demonstrating a lack of greed and a high level of common sense that WBC should follow, but it is highly unlikely that the will!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy51 Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Widnes has good free parking ,year round . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 No idea about our free parking this year but in past years it's always been free on Thursday night (late night xmas opening) but that's about it apart from Sundays. There's the free park and ride bus service on Saturdays dotted around the outskirts every year though and that's pretty good especially from over this way and so much easier than battling the Saturday traffic and manic parking problems in town.. I wonder when it starts as I've not see the signs up for it yet... odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Well here I am replying to myself about the xmas park and ride service. Splashed across Network Warrington's website is the following......... dated 22 Oct 2013 Christmas Park & Ride Not Operating Please be aware that the Christmas Park & Ride service will not be operating this year. This service is normally contracted by Warrington Borough Council however they have decided not to operate the service this year. http://www.networkwarrington.co.uk/news/christmas-park-&-ride-not-operating Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 What a joke of a bus service there is in Warrington these days. This Park and Ride scheme, despite costing money should be seen as an essential, and traders in Warrington Town Centre should be kicking up a fuss. I as a regular car user, have used this in previous years, as parking in town is in great demand, and as a result, I will either shop afield or online this year, so well done WBT, after the disgraceful strikes earlier in the year, you should be hanging your heads in shame. You should be a PUBLIC service. Maybe its time to let them go under after we, the tax payer, bailed them out previously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egbert Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 This coming Saturday is "Small Business Saturday" and the Forum of Private Business circulated every council in the country suggesting that they mark the occasion by offering one day of free parking. Some 40 councils agreed to do so - Warrington was not one of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Why does that not surprise me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky71 Posted December 15, 2013 Report Share Posted December 15, 2013 It amazes me how often the subject of the lack of cheap parking in Warrington crops up, Golden Square:- just over a quid for an hour. £2.20 for 4 hours, FREE on sundays or Thursdays after 4pm. Market car park:- £1 for 3 hours. £2 all day, Winwick street £2.20 ALL DAY If those prices frighten you, perhaps you should be doing your shopping at all the pound shops in Widnes, Northwich and St Helens. There are reasons why parking is free in Widnes and Northwich-the shopping is very limited. I don't know any other town our size and range of shops that does cheaper parking. I also read an article on the St Helens site regarding the closure of their WH Smith. They were comparing it with our town saying that why we don't have cheap parking, we have a wider range of shops. See the prices above, don't be afraid. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy51 Posted December 15, 2013 Report Share Posted December 15, 2013 Have you been to Widnes lately ? All the big name shops are there with adjacent parking & they still have a TJs & all the big supermarkets & they have a good bus service to neighbouring towns with bus stops next to the shopping centre. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inky pete Posted December 15, 2013 Report Share Posted December 15, 2013 There are reasons why parking is free in Widnes and Northwich-the shopping is very limited. I don't know any other town our size and range of shops that does cheaper parking. Northwich and Widnes have just as much decent shopping (and probably no more pound shops!) as Warrington. And there's plenty of free parking just a short trip down the road from Urmston with a FAR greater range of shops than Warrington will ever have! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy51 Posted December 15, 2013 Report Share Posted December 15, 2013 I think the comments about the demise of the park & ride service highlight that the present bus operator is more interested in profits than providing a service , may be the council should be rectifying this by subsidising the buses once again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 15, 2013 Report Share Posted December 15, 2013 A noble aspiration Davy; but in case you hadn't noticed the Council are currently considering £17million in cuts and are wrestling with a £40odd million deficit. The Bus Company, like many ex-Council services, now has to operate as a business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy51 Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 Yes , so a proper bus service is wishful thinking as far as the council is concerned. You would really expect the green policies of the government would be ploughing money into sustainable public transport though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 Equally, National Gov would argue they are cash strapped and in debt; hence the current austerity programmes. At the end of the day, it all comes down to the tax and spend equation; and whether we have the right spending priorities and sufficient revenue generation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy51 Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 ......and what a nice little earner it is for the tax man to have millions of motorists filling his coffers daily ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 You cynic Davy :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inky pete Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 You would really expect the green policies of the government would be ploughing money into sustainable public transport though. Plenty of places in this borough have NEVER had a bus service worthy of the name. And when it comes right down to it, how much greener is it really to have dozens of filthy 15 or 20 year old diesel buses running around all day with hardly anyone on them rather than modern private cars which only run their engines at all when someone actually wants to go somewhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky71 Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 Have you been to Widnes lately ? All the big name shops are there with adjacent parking & they still have a TJs & all the big supermarkets & they have a good bus service to neighbouring towns with bus stops next to the shopping centre. I've been to widnes many times and have yet to see a Debenhams, Primark, H&M etc. As for the buses, I would say that our interchange is in quite a handy location. I'm not saying Warrington is fantastic, I think that compared to similar sized towns, especially in the south, we have inferior facilities. I'm just contesting the accusation of expensive parking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted December 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 Primark, H&M etc. ahhh such quality!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 Never mind the quality, feel the width! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy51 Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 I've been to widnes many times and have yet to see a Debenhams, Primark, H&M etc. As for the buses, I would say that our interchange is in quite a handy location. I'm not saying Warrington is fantastic, I think that compared to similar sized towns, especially in the south, we have inferior facilities. I'm just contesting the accusation of expensive parking. To be honest TF ,i try & go into Warrington by bus if possible & if i go by car i try & park outside the town centre & walk in.... & that is more because i hate sitting in traffic than the parking charge. However ,apart from the shops you mentioned, Widnes does have a good choice of High St names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Parish Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 Plenty of places in this borough have NEVER had a bus service worthy of the name. And when it comes right down to it, how much greener is it really to have dozens of filthy 15 or 20 year old diesel buses running around all day with hardly anyone on them rather than modern private cars which only run their engines at all when someone actually wants to go somewhere? Most Network Warrington buses are under ten years old. And they either go to places with lots of customers (and make a profit, especially with less frequent services) or they go to more remote places "with hardly anyone on them" and when those services are threatened some on here think they should be run as a "public service", but without of course putting up council tax (or any other tax). Bah, humbug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy51 Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 But if you want to get a less gridlocked Warrington you need to go down the route of tempting people out of cars & onto public transport ,but to do that it needs to be a cheap alternative to using a car ,the service needs to be comprehensive throughout the borough ,& it needs to be reliable & at times to suit its customers. A bus with 50 seats has the potential to take 50 cars off the roads where the one in a car brigade are concerned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 24, 2013 Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 Interesting one for the critics of local Councils exploiting motorists; seems LAs are using car parking charges and other revenue initiatives, to compensate for cuts in rate support grant and the cap on rate rises. Perhaps folk would prefer services to be cut instead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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