Warrington Xmas Parking....

[Sha]

Quote Sefton Council    "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.

 

How does free parking 'cost' anything?

I presume that the £30,000 is not an actual 'cost' but the amount the council would have expected to generate had they charged for the parking facilities.

 

It would be interesting to know how they came to that amount.

Perhaps it was the amount generated by charging for parking on the same dates last year?

Perhaps it would be the amount generated if ALL parking spaces were filled -and paid for?

Perhaps it's an amount they need for something else which they can now take out of the 'priorities fund' and use as they wish?

Whatever, it's an amount that would be difficult to verify as accurate - because if the general public had decided to shop elsewhere the amount generated would have been zilch anyway!

 

Another interesting question;-

Where exactly did the 'priorities fund' come from?'

Apparently it's funding that  "has been set aside to support town centres and the local economy"     the plurality of  'town centres' is a possible indication that it is govt/euro money ring-fenced for a specific purpose. So, was this an act of generosity from Sefton Council or have they found a good way of diverting 'outside money' to the council coffers? 

 

Perhaps other councils will follow their lead next year?

Another aspect of the the lack of parking receipts = lack of evidence of how popular an area was over the Christmas period, so no parking charges would be a good move for any towns wanting to hide the fact that their area is going down the pan! 

 I could actually see this catching on! 

 

Sorry for the cynicism at this particular time of year but I've never known any council to be touched by the spirit of human kindness, sadly not even at Christmas.