Attleborough Have Your Say

[The Egyptian]

Although this doesn't affect me directly as I normally walk into town to do my shopping, I would like to comment on this issue.

It seems that the council are contemplating charging for this as there are a number of drivers leaving their cars in our car parks all day therefore making it difficult for genuine shoppers to find a space. The proposal seems to be that the first two hours should be free, after which there will be an escalating charge.

For once I agree with the local council as I think this is a good idea.
Anyone else like to comment?

[muttley]

This I think is a very BAD idea, There are few carparks in town and with many workers in the local shops having to drive in from the surrounding villages (because there is either a limited or non existant public transport system) this will put a big dent in their already low-ish wages.
Why does Attleborough feel it has to charge for parking when every other Town in Breckland has free parking.
Does the Town council honestly think the carparks are full of commuters who park there all day & get a train into Norwich ? Have they actually done a survey and asked all the drivers who use the carparks if they do this ?
I don't think so.

Sainsburys could do better too. After the recent re-fit they banned all their staff from using their own carpark. Even the staff carpark around the back of the store is empty because they would not let their staff park there.
If the Town council want to eleviate some of the parking problems then I suggest a strongly worded letter to Justin King, CEO of Sainsburys wouldn't go amiss. The management at Sainsburys, Attleborough are about as approachable as a Grizzly Bear who has just come out of hibernation & eaten a very hot curry.

[The Egyptian]

I have e-mailed Justin King and he says that the staff are not banned, just that there are some restrictions. Those staff who work early or late shifts can still park and he also says that there are 15 other spaces in town (he didn't say where) that the staff can use.

[muttley]

those 15 spaces are in the Connaught Road car park and I believe that only 2 of the management use those spaces.
IMHO this is a total waste of time, there is a perfectly good staff car park behind the store which isn't used because of the restrictions set by Sainsburys. The staff are subject to disciplinary proceedings if they park on the premises if they work during normal office hours.

[The Egyptian]

As I understand it from Justin King, the staff places in the store were freed up for customer use after complaints that the rest of the car park was continually overloaded.

If only two of the fifteen spaces for staff use are being taken up, then thirteen spaces are available for staff use!!!!

I also understand from Justin King that Sainsbury's are paying for these 15 spaces.

So what am I missing here? Is it that some staff do not want to indulge in a little exercise in walking a short way to work? Or is there something else?

[muttley]

If you talk to the car park attendant, he will tell you that there are plenty of spaces available for both Staff & customers. The staff car park is mostly empty as customers are not allowed to park around the back of the store.

Why shouldn't staff be allowed to park at their place of work in the first instance. Most of them are only there for about 4 hours max anyway.

Brekland council has a policy that ALL parking in their area is free, why should Attleborough council rock the boat just for their own gains ?

[The Egyptian]

I think then Muttley that you should put those points to Justin King, his e-mail address is: Justin.King@sainsburys.co.uk .

I agree with you that staff should be allowed to park at their place of work, but maybe this is a blanket decision by Sainsbury's to apply to all stores. I don't know if this is the case, I am only trying to suggest why they might be doing this. Sometimes people at the top make decisions without looking at all the facts and seeing if those decisions are sound and won't upset the staff.

E-mail him, you never know you just might get that decision overturned.

[manicMD]

I am very concerned about the state of parking in Attleborough. All of the car parks are overstretched especially Edenside Drive which being close to Sainsbury's is favoured by their employees.

However, once full a hard core group of ignorant individuals see fit to abandon, (not park), their cars at the side of the road down Edenside Drive ignoring yellow lines and without a though for the residents who's access they maybe blocking.

The Town Council in their collective ignorance decide to close off half the 'Budgens" car park once a week for a market adding pressure to other car parks and roadside parking.

It is time that our Mayor and her merry band of men and women took a long hard look at parking resources and actuially conducted a study of available parking for shoppers and employees alike rather than just implimenting charges 'because it's a good idea' - and where will the revenue go? hmmmm ..............

Parent parking is also a huge problem in town with some parents parking in Besthorpe Road from as early as 1.45pm ready to collect their children up a good hour and a half later ......... most live within walking distance, leaving their cars at home may take some pressure off parking facilities and promote fitness and healthy living for their children.

I don't have all the answers but, something needs to be done and a good starting place would be a survey of all aspects of parking, numbers, safety, shopper vs employee parking etc. etc.

[Biggles The Aviator]

We recently moved into Attleborough (which we love) from the South-East. In Marlow, where we were, you only have to pause for breath in the street and the Council will try and charge you a £1 for the privilege. There, local businesses have been consistently and ruthlessly been driven out by increases to rates that mean only the largest chains can afford to have shops on the streets. Result: a lifeless, over-priced, stressed and unfriendly dump, with no shops of any value - unless you have a gold credit card with a massive spending limit and no brain. The best view of Marlow is that to be had in the rear view mirror as you drive away.
The joy of being here is that local business and local initiative are valued by the customers; and that people are friendly and like to chat! What a revelation!! Under no circumstance should any risk be given to all of that by a car park charging regime that might put even one visitor, local or otherwise, off.
That said, I can see potential benefit in a charge after, say, 2 hours - and I would be happy to pay this, even as a local. It would hopefully deter those who leave cars each day all day, or at least force them into giving some financial benefit to Attleborough. So I think it SHOULD be considered. But the debate should be open and transparent (and the Mayor agrees, we know) and handled sensitively - and this it seems to be so far. The question of disposal of any revenue is the key bit for me. Let's see it ploughed back into Attleborough in a MEANINGFUL way - something that gives a direct boost to the Town, in either aesthetic or practical terms. Thoughts?? What would you do?
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Biggles The Aviator

[muttley]

I did not attend the meeting which the council held to talk about parking in town, (some of us have to work away from Attleborough), but this is the responce which was in today's EDP

Attleborough needs a multi-storey car park to solve its congestion problems, according to residents and councillors.

At a meeting of Breckland Council's parking project group yesterday, residents, councillors and the Attleborough Chamber of Trade and Commerce all voiced support for such a scheme.

The group was set up by the Overview and Scrutiny Commission to review parking throughout Breckland, and held the public meeting in Attleborough after a request from the town council to charge for off-street parking.

Parking in Attleborough, Thetford, Dereham, Swaffham and Watton has been free for decades as a Breckland Council policy, but Attleborough Town Council claims that commuters abuse the service by leaving cars in town all day.

It has requested a pay-and-display scheme for the Queen's Square, Edenside, and Horse Pit car parks, where the first two hours would be free.

Breckland Council owns 27 car parks, three of which are in Attleborough.

Terry Cracknell, acting chairman of the Attleborough Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said private investment may be needed if the plan is to succeed, but that a multi-storey park was one possible answer.

The suggestion was praised by committee member Pam Martin, as well as members of the public who spoke at the meeting.

Richard Laurence, who lives on Queen's Square, admitted that it was hard for residents to find parking spaces because of the influx of cars from out of town.

“I've abused the parking in the centre of town, partly because I don't have a space in front of my house.”

He also suggested that a large, multi-storey car park on the Queen's Square site was an ideal solution.

The mayor of Attleborough, Vera Dale, said spaces for those who live and work in Attleborough would need to be a priority. “We can't say 'use public transport', because it's virtually non-existent,” she said.

However, concerns were raised that if parking charges were introduced in some areas, there would be an increase in illegal parking.

Insp Adam Hayes, speaking on behalf of Norfolk police, said parking enforcement should not be left to the police as they “have lots of things to do.”

However, he did say that police officers would continue to enforce “more outrageous parking”, such as cars left on double yellow lines or those causing an obstruction.

The next meeting of the parking project group will be on November 17 at Attleborough Town Hall.

My question is, if this does go ahead, where are the cars going to park when building of a multi story takes place ?

To be honest, I can't see planning permission being given the go ahead for a multi-story in a small town like ours.

[Biggles The Aviator]

A multi-storey car park in the centre of Attleborough? Wow..... I'd love to see the 'sympathetic' architect's designs for that one!!

Is that really the only solution?
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Biggles The Aviator

[Frequent Flyer]

If the parking problems are really caused by 'out of towners' abusing the system wouldn't the old fashioned method of employing a man to patrol the town's car parks issuing parking tickets to those who outstay a specified period be a cheaper and more attractive solution than a multi-storey building. A permit system would allow those with a genuine reason for staying longer to do so.

If more parking spaces are needed then why not be radical and build them out of town and make the town centre traffic free. Attleborough is not so big that a small(ish) park and ride system could not be implemented.

[muttley]

if people are using the car parks to commute into Norwich or where ever,(which I doubt they are but.. hey, the Counncil have their own agenda here) then there is a superb site just waiting for a carpark, and it's right next to the station.
I give you......the old Gaymers site. buildings that have been partially pulled down could be flattened and used for parking.

In the words of a rather annoying advert... "Simples"

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