A window cleaner today hit out at parking enforcement officials in Shrewsbury after he was told he would have to pay a waiver, which could cost him £5 a day to prevent his van being targeted by wardens.
Kim Downer, of Baschurch, says he has been told by ParkRight bosses that if he wants to prevent his van from being targeted he must apply in advance for a waiver costing £5 a day or £40 for 10 days.
He has spent the last 30 years cleaning the windows of shops, offices and pubs in Shrewsbury town centre, using his van to carry heavy extendable ladders and other cleaning equipment.
Mr Downer said he had initially been issued a one-day temporary permission to park “in contravention of parking restrictions”. But now he has been told he must pay £10 a day for a waiver or what amounts to a season ticket of £5 a day or £40 for 10 days.
A note given to him by a parking warden said: “If you regularly need a waiver for an appropriate activity in a limited waiting area, then you can apply in advance at a cost of £5 a day or £40 for 10 days.”
Mr Downer said: “What is this town coming to? It’s crazy having to pay this sort of money just to do my job.”
A spokesman for Parkright said: “These are the fees he must pay under the waiver regulations. If Mr Downer is not happy he can make an official complaint and can take up the issue with his local councillor.”
11 Comments
He should go for the £40 for 10 days, very reasonable, much better than £60 a ticket.
Sack Thieving ParkRight, these people do no good for the reputation of the town
short term thinking again. target the motorist tomake some quick money off parking and in the long term just encourage them out of town to the supermarkets which actually welcome motorists.
There is always an excuse why these people who get the tickets shouldn’t pay.
If you need to park as part of your job then do it through the proper channels like everyone else does.
If you shouldn’t be parking then don’t.
It’s easy really..
I think a bit of common sense is needed here,this man is trying to earn a living
after all.I dont suppose window cleaning pays that much so i think the local council
could step in and help him out,after all Shrewsbury is a tourist destination and should
look clean and inviting.
Yes Wendy but there is always someone who thinks they are above the law and that the rules don’t apply to them to them and should be let off.
Should everyone who earns less than a certain amount be excluded or let off?
At the end of the day they are on double yellow lines which you are not allowed to stop on, so if the council choose to enforce this law then they have every right to do so.
He could charge more to allow for his extra charges!
I agree with Wendy - a modicom of common sense would be welcome here - in this particular case, it seems that those who actually need to park in the town in order to carry out their work, are being penalised for thosewho just cannot be bothered parking correctly in the first place.
ParkRight have had some really bad press of late and this article will do nothing to help re-gain public support!
If he has to pay £10 per day (which is outrageous) the cost will be passed on to his customers. They will think twice about having their windows cleaned regularly, and the appearance of the town will suffer. So…having washed their hands of parking control, will the council accept that their aim here was to make the town centre look grubby?
Whichever way you shake it, this is just putting the squeeze on a hard-working man again.
It really is another expense which all businesses have to take account of when determining their charging. There is no reason why he should be let off paying the charge, just as their would be no reason why he shouldn’t pay for petrol, or road tax. I presume he doesn’t have to pay business rates, so he should think he gets of lightly!
Hmmmmm Martin’s comments are very interesting. Firstly, Parkright ARE NOT enforcing the law. The law is enforced without judgement, preconception and monetary targets. Officers of the LAW are highly trained individuals with common sense are encouraged to use it. This is the exact opposite of Parkright!!!!
The amount of money that a tradesman earns is irrelevant, what is relevant, howver, is the nature of the trade
Certain trades need access and therefore should not be CHARGED to have it. Since when did English law have a fee??????
If it is proven that you need exception to a RULE, why should you have to pay - do disabled people pay because they hve special requirements???