Big review over ParkRight operations

Wednesday 27th August 2008, 11:50AM BST.

ParkRight WardensExtensive public consultation is to take place across Shropshire as part of a review into the parking services currently carried out by ParkRight.Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council and Shropshire County Council are currently undertaking a review of ParkRight.

The joint parking advisory group, a group of elected councillors from around Shropshire, have decided that an extensive consultation exercise should be undertaken.

Councillor Peter Nutting, leader of SABC, said: “As council leader I have received hundreds of informal comments about ParkRight but now is the chance for the public to really influence the future of the service.

“Please let us have your opinion of ParkRight, both good and bad, so that we can shape the service to the needs of everyone in the new Shropshire.”

In November 2006, the six county, borough and district councils across Shropshire entered into a partnership for the operation parking enforcement.

The current agency agreement is for two years ending on November 20, 2008.

Shropshire County Council has agreed to extend the existing agency agreement until March 31,when the service will transfer to the county’s new unitary council.

County councillor John Everall, Shropshire County Council’s cabinet member for economy and environment and chairman of the joint parking advisory group, said: “I welcome this review and would urge people to let us know their views so that they can help inform the future operation of this difficult, but important service.”

The closing date for consultation is September 19.


  1. 1
    ANDREW FINCH

    get rid , the fantasy problems that were invented by the select few to allow this shower to be brought in were exactly that fantasy , it is and always has been a form highway robbery.
    Do we realy want to see ponytailed, shaven headed tattooed oiks patrolling the market town of shrewsbury in 3s waiting to ripp of moterests who have over stayed in the town car park for 5 mins,
    (and no they have never ticketed me)
    its theft and the people who work for this shower are no better and no different to fagins artfull dodger.

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    libby

    May I suggest that the public consultation is very well advertised and sufficient notice given to allow everyone who wants to take part the opportunity to do so. So many public consultations in Shropshire have given short notice to potential participants or have not been advertised widely enough.
    I’m sure the shops within Shrewsbury would like to opt in!

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    KJ

    It would be nice to have been consulted at the start but this is better than nothing.
    Mr Finch there is no need to get personal they have a job to do wether you agree with it or not.
    I do believe there is need for some kind of inforcement as the selfish people who think they can park forever will overcome the law obiding, well mannered few.

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    Brian Howett

    As always, I see “consultation” follows after “hundreds of comments”.
    Agree with KJ.
    One wonders why it is cost-effective to have three Jobsworths for one car with a tyre on the kerb.

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    Mike

    I am another one who has never received a ticket from ParkRight, but have been aware by simple observation of their activity around the town, how some of these guy’s operate. Some would do well in training to the 2012 Olympics the speed some of them rush past pedestrians when they spot a vehicle that may be a target for them.
    In saying that, I do however feel that we do need some kind of control over the idiots who park without a care in the world for others.
    OK so the council screwed up recently and parking charges were suspended in parts of the town, but take the WHITE VAN MAN who parks opposite the Castle Dana Steps. He knows he will not receive a ticket as the yellow lines have not been replaced following resurfacing work, but this forces all traffic into the Bus Lane. This stupidity is why we need some type of control on parking, but a little common sense would be much appreciated. Computers have no logic and only do what they are programmed to do. Dare I finish this sentence….?

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    Y Mab Darogan

    I would not have thought Shrewsbury would have a parking problem.
    Its a well known fact that many shoppers are shopping at Telford Town Centre now rather than Shrewsbury.

    If anything you would expect Shrewsbury to make parking free to encourage shoppers to Shrewsbury.

    For example Burger King closed down many years in Shrewsbury town centre.

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    Jonny 5 bellies

    yeah sack em all they cost more than they make, i want to park where ever i like when ever i like anyone who gets in my way is just a pain

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  8. 8
    Jeepers

    I imagine that this will all end the way all “public consultations” end, ie: the council(s)will make their decisions wihout the help of the public.

    The idea that the council(s) actually care what we think is an amusing one, but divorced from reality. I doubt there will be much change.

    The fact is that parking enforcement in many places *is* necessary. Whether Parkright have tackled their job right is open to question, but I have to say that there are many places in the UK where parking enforcement is far far worse…

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    ANDREW FINCH

    im sorry but i speak as i see and i see pony tailed, and shaven headed heavily tatooed staff and it says it all realy.

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    MarkyP

    Oh Mr Finch; your comments are as ever personal, misguided and pointless. One would suggest that the reason Parkright employees travel in 3s is more likely due to “ponytailed, shaven headed tattooed oiks” abusing and hindering them from their job. Records will probably show the grief that these people, who are only doing their jobs, have had to put up with.
    Yes, I welcome a public consultation, but as a regular driver in the town, I also welcome the fact that driving and parking is much improved since Parkright took to the streets. And as people often say in these comments, if one obeys the law, then you have nothing to fear.
    But if one wishes to talk about daylight robbery, then one need only turn to the prices charged by Arriva to travel into town. When we are encouraged to reduce carbon footprints, emissions, etc, should it realy cost the best part of £10 for a family of 3 to travel from the hospital and back? Perhaps cheaper and better run public transport would reduce car use in town and negate the requirement for gangs of marauding highwaymen in blue!

    Report abuse

  11. 11
    EH

    They make going into town a nightmare. You can’t even drop someone off in the centre anymore.

    Report abuse

  12. 12
    Rick Shaw

    Like those who complain about speed cameras, if you don’t flout the regulations then you won’t get caught. if the motorist could be trusted to obey the regulations then no one need be employed to enforce any of them speed limits,parking et al.

    Report abuse

  13. 13
    Bob Woodhouse

    If people only parked in authorised spaces and didn’t over-run their paid for time, then this company would go out of business.

    Report abuse

  14. 14
    AMANDA EDE

    I WAS MOST ANNOYED AFTER CHECKING WITH A CSO, AND A PARKRIGHT OFFICER IF IT WAS OK TO PARK IN A DISABLED BAY WHILST DROPPING OFF AFEW BAGS TO THE BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION SHOP,I WAS TOLD LEAVE THE DISABLED BAYS FREE,AND PARK ON THE BUS STOP,AS IT WAS A SUNDAY AND THERE WERE NO BUSES IN SERVICE,THE PARK RIGHT OFFICER GAVR ME A SMILE AND I THOUGHT THEY DONT DESEARVE THE BAD PRESS THEY GET,SO IMAGINE WHEN TWO WEEKS LATER I AM TICKETED FOR PARKING ON THE BUS STOP,YES I KNOW ITS A BUS STOP AND I WOULD NOT DREAM OF PARKING THERE DURING THE WEEK,AND I HAD CHECKED BEFORE,BUT HEY I HAVE A TICKET,A REWARD FOR BEING CHARITABLE!AND I ALSO HAVE A NICE PHOTO GALLERY ON MY NOTICE BOARD OF MY CAR AT EVERY POSSIBLE ANGLE!THE FINE HAS BEEB WELL WORTH PAYING FOR THE AMOUNT OF HUMOUR MY PICS HAVE BOUGHT TO VISITORS ALONG WITH THE STORY,YES I WONT PARK THERE AGAIN TO DROP OFF DONATIONS I NOW FREECYCLE THEN LESS CHANCE OF A TICKET THAT WAY!YES THESE GUYS DO HAVE A JOB TO DO I JUST WISH THEY WOULD TREAT EVERYBODY THE SAME.SEEN MANY ILLEGALLY PARKED CARS THAT HAVE ESCAPED THE TICKET OFFICER AND MY CAR WAS WATCHED FROM 2.15 TO 2.15!COME ON THE HEART FOUNDATION SHOPS JUST ROUND THE CORNER,OH WELL WE LIVE AND LEARN TOTALLY MY FAULT BUT RATHER ANNOYED WHEN BEEN TOLD IN THE PAST IT WAS OK BY 2 RESPECTED MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

    Report abuse

  15. 15
    ANDREW FINCH

    THEY TRAVELL IN 3S BECOUSE OF WHAT THEY FACE FROM THE PUBLIC??? ANY ARRESTS OF THE PUBLIC ?? ANY ASSAULTS ON THEM FROM THE PUBLIC??? ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC BEEN ROBBED BY THESE ART FULL ODGERS YES HUNDREDS

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  16. 16
    Bridgnorth resident

    If you park in a bus stop then it’s an automatic ticket, full stop! Mind you, I work for Shropshire County Council and think some of the Park Right attendants are less than helpful, whilst others are really good. They have a job to do and no matter what anyone says, things have improved in Bridgnorth since they took over. There are many inconsiderate people who think they can just park wherever they like, blocking pavements, accesses, etc, and unfortunately sometimes they don’t get ticketed, it’s just one of those things. So the crux of the matter is – just don’t park where you’re not supposed too!

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  17. 17
    pete the plumber

    back off the boys in blue they do a great job, thanks to them freeing up the loading bays I can now do by job so they are helping little businesses like me

    xx white van man peter

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  18. 18
    anthony worrells

    park right only enforce the laws, the shropshire county council highways section (democratically controlled) make them. if you dont like the rules – dont blame the parkies, but equally if you dont like the laws, dont moan when you are nearly killed due to dangerous parking, or your rubbish bin is missed because the truck cannot get into your street, or your house in burning down and the fire truck cannot get access, come on Park Right are a valuable public service, i back them all the way, lets be glad we have a fair, efficient and properlly managed parking service in this town which helps keep the place moving

    Report abuse

  19. 19
    matt s

    they are good lads, doing a tough job, i support them whole heartedly as a disabled motorist, i think they have helped me enormously by stopping law breaking thugs stealing my spaces

    Report abuse

  20. 20
    The Devil

    Matt s

    “Law breaking THUGS”???
    That’s a bit harsh to call someone just for parking in your space isn’t it??
    But I do agree able bodied persons should not park in disabled zones…..and as for your blue discs…….DONT GET ME STARTED ON THAT ONE!!!

    Report abuse

  21. 21
    mark 6

    i’m really pleased we now have some enforcement, the police were too busy to do anything and it lead to gridlock and criminal dangerous parking, now its much better, so well done park right!

    Report abuse

  22. 22
    peter lee

    i think they do get a bit harsh when you have actually bought a ticket but you are say 5 mins late, i have no problem, hammering illegal and dangerous parking, or those who dont pay at all but i think a bit of lee way for just being a few mins late would help public confidence with the service

    Report abuse

  23. 23
    Jake the Snake

    anecdotally i think from my observations of driving around town that since park right came on the scene there has been a reduction in congestion, so that has to be good for the economy and the environment

    Report abuse

  24. 24
    John Danish

    Yes Jake you are right, there is less traffic BECAUSE THEY SCARED IT ALL AWAY!! no good having less pollution in town if there is lots of car parking and pollution now in castlefields and copthorne instead! We need car access to town, but i think the park and ride should be free then 90% of the time, i would happily leave my car by the by pass, its just if you are just nipping in and if you have a full car, its cheaper still to drive than it is to use the park and ride

    Report abuse

  25. 25
    The Devil

    Just got back from town. parked in Ravens Meadows car park……1 hr 5 mins cost me £2.20 the extra 5 mins cost me £1.20p, serves me right for stopping to watch the street entertainer in the square! All on street parking charges have been suspended and there was a few spaces available around St Marys Place and Fish Street. High street closed from top of Kop due to the entertainment.

    Report abuse

  26. 26
    Bob

    Mr Finch – presumably you would prefer to be harassed by gentlemen with nice short, back and sides haircuts or maybe a friendly Keeganesque bubble perm?

    Report abuse

  27. 27
    jon p

    I think Park rite do a really gud job stopping congestion and stuff, its loads better in town now and so if you get fined, and you dont like it, well DONT DO TH CRIME IF YOU CANT DO THE TIME!

    Report abuse

  28. 28
    RG

    There is a simple solution to the parking problem. I don’t shop in the middle of town any more – no parking, no ticket. Everything I want I can get at the out of town shops (free car parks) or from the internet. A pity for the shopkeepers who lose custom (as I know from friends that I am not the only one who does this) but that is what the council have made practical.

    Report abuse

  29. 29
    pp

    just park legally and it wont be a problem people

    Report abuse

  30. 30
    be safe

    they are just job s worths but i guess im glad they are there rather than a free for all

    Report abuse

  31. 31
    Danny Bound

    no one says they are not fair, because they just follow the rules, i wish more motorists would

    Report abuse

  32. 32
    ANDREW FINCH

    bob ….uniformed staff yes with proper short hair cuts and of smart apearance, not poney tails or shaved heads with tatoos over there neck and hands, its call standards ,not just employing any old oik that could be picked up of the long term dole que or some sink estate.

    Report abuse

  33. 33
    matt she

    the police canot be dealing with the low level stuff, not unless you want your council tax to double at least, come on these officers earn 35 k per annum and oftern are degre educated, they do not want to be issuing parking tickets all day, that’s seriously inefficient for all, having civil enforcement of low level crime is a good idea in principle and in practice and it works, look at the improved congestion in shrewsbury of late, look at the improved accessibility for shoppers, delivery vans, buses, the disabled, etc. Park Right has delivered and its doing a good job.

    Of course those anti-parking enforcement could stage a mass week of protest, and put the whole ting out of business, it would be simple, i dare them to try, all you need to do is everyone in the whole borough to promise to just park legally for a whole month, go on, give it a go, no stopping in loading bays, parking on double yellows, imagine actually paying for a ticket when you park… It would put park right out of business, go on give it a try in stead of moaning

    Report abuse

  34. 34
    shelly brown

    the only ones complainning here are the criminals who break the parking regs and the bad drivers who cant parallell park straight

    lets get behind our boys in blue

    from the law abiding majority

    Report abuse

  35. 35
    Matthew Penny

    i think park right are useful but one or two chaps can be a little bit power crazed, short man syndrome I think

    Report abuse

  36. 36
    Legit parker

    I’m pleased to see my fellow commentators are generally actually supportative of the parking enforcement operatives, this is because like me, the majority of Shrewsburys residents are visitors are decent law abiding folk who dont mind paying for parking provision, and appreciate a uniformed presence on the streets, its quite difficult to find fault in the system, after all the parking regulations have not changed in the last few years, its just that they are now, for the first time ever, actually enforced! Sadly the police never did this as they were too busy, now the civil enforcement officers, ensure we can all get a space and park decently and safely.

    Report abuse

  37. 37
    spindrift

    ROFL @ Matt Penny.

    Yes. Brains too near their backsides…

    Report abuse

  38. 38
    Donkey Kong

    they are little hitlers in blue, just stealth taxing us for the government, cant wait til the tories get in and get rid of things like car parking charges

    Report abuse

  39. 39
    Berty Bassett

    Shropshire is far better with parking enforcement than it was without,just look at shrewsbury the last three weeks with no charges for on street parking, it has been a total nightmare for anybody want to go into town and park legally for a short time because these people who complain about parkright have been parking on the street all day without moving and therefore freeing up no kerb space for anybody else to park. what good can that do the shops and businesses yet to me it looks like its the traders that are taking all these spaces outside there shops then moaning that trade is down well no wonder!.
    If civil enforcement officers dont enforce the parking laws nobody will and it just shows the last 3 weeks how people just care about themselves.
    keep going parkright i and many many others believe in the work you do, take no notice of some of the fools on here talking rubbish,keep up the good work.

    Report abuse

  40. 40
    Pinkblob

    As a matter of fact, a shaven headed, tattooed man in a uniform was in our street this morning. He was a paramedic. Would your prejudices prevent you allowing an oick like that to save your life, Mr Finch?

    Report abuse



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