Commuter survey
26 February 2010
While some UK local councils are raking in almost £7 million a year from parking tickets, hard-pressed business people commuting into Central London are paying around £500 on average every year in fines – and are now factoring this into their operating costs.
A survey of commuters carried out by the 247 Parking website found that people driving into central London not only have to pay the Congestion Charge but are increasingly forced to park illegally because of the sheer lack of street parking in central London. Parking tickets and wheel clamps for many have become an occupational hazard.
One London estate agent found herself in the unfortunate situation of getting six parking tickets in one day.
“I have to use the car for my work, showing clients around properties. Public transport just isn’t an option. The really annoying thing is that while I knew that I was parking in a risky place when I got the first ticket, every other time I was pretty sure I was parking legally. The final ticket I got after I had left the car for literally under five minutes,” says independent Estate Agent Monica Jenkins, 36, from Morden.
Some are even writing off the costs of parking tickets into their operating costs.
“Last year I paid around £700 in fines. I travel into Hammersmith regularly and parking is almost impossible. I’m afraid that I just accept parking fines as part of the cost of doing business in London,” says New Media Consultant Justin Webb, 36, of Maningtree.
With long-running engineering works set to affect the Northern Line, coupled with ongoing problems with commuter rail services, many people feel that they have no option but to drive into London. Strikes planned for February 5 and 14 will see a significant increase in road traffic into Central London.
A more affordable alternative to just living with parking tickets, however, is provided by 247 Parking. For over eight years 247 Parking has offered commuters and visitors affordable secure parking in or close to their destination.
“Some business travellers think that parking is too expensive and too difficult to arrange and are therefore prepared to risk getting parking tickets,” says 247 Parking MD Julia Callan. “We offer a really easy to use and cheap service that can save drivers a lot of grief as well as a lot of money.”
The survey of 1215 respondents breaks down as follows:
1. Have you parked illegally in London in the past 6 months?
Yes 76 per cent
No 24 per cent
2. How many tickets have you had in the past six months?
None 11 per cent
One 29 per cent
Under five 54 per cent
Five to 10 4 per cent
More than 10 2 per cent
3. Have you successfully contested a parking ticket in the past year?
Yes 13 per cent
No 87 per cent
4. How often do you take your car into central London?
Never 11 per cent
Once a year 13 per cent
Once a year to once a month 26 per cent
Once a month to once a week 28 per cent
Every day 22 per cent
5. How much did you pay in parking fines last year?
£0 12 per cent
Less than £50 9 per cent
£50 - £100 11 per cent
£100 - £400 23 per cent
£400 - £500 23 per cent
£500 - £700 21 per cent
Over £700 1 per cent
About 24 7 Parking:
Established in 2002, 24 7 Parking are experts in finding car parking in London and across the UK. Whether clients are looking for a months’ parking or a years’ parking, 24 7 Parking will find the most convenient and cost effective options.
Contact details:
24 7 Parking Limited,
309 Linen Hall,
162-168 Regent Street,
London
W1B 5TD
Tel: 020 7183 7247
Email: info@247parking.com
Common sense beats car thefts
26 February 2010
With thefts from parked automobiles on the up, some people will go to the wildest extremes to protect their cars. In South Africa where the crime rate is notoriously high, some owners have taken to leaving pythons in their cars to deter thieves. And from the US we hear that one Florida resident was recently fined for having a hungry alligator in his car. Here in London, of course, it seldom gets more unusual that a vicious dog or two.
As animal lovers, we at 247 Parking cannot condone leaving animals cooped up in parked cars to deter opportunists from snatching your sat nav or your stereo. As car owners we can’t recommend it because…well let’s just say that cleaning the interior could be a tad unpleasant.
Some common sense is needed. Remove everything from your car, even coats, and stick it all in the boot. Install a car alarm. Register with Immobilise (www.immobilise.com) the free register of possession ownership details and display a sticker on your windscreen. Get a steering wheel lock. But above all else, park somewhere safe.
We at 247 Parking have been providing safe, secure and affordable parking in Central London and nationwide for nearly eight years. We can find you space in car parks or in safe residential and commercial zones where your vehicle will be safe.
“It’s mad to risk your car or its contents by parking at random in an area you don’t know. We feel that by taking responsibility for our own cars and their contents, we benefit other drivers.
Because if there are no easy pickings for car thieves then they’ll soon give up,” says 247 Parking MD Julia Callan. “As anyone who has had their car broken into will tell you, the hassle of dealing with police, insurance and repairs far outweighs the inconvenience of spending a few moments to hide your property and secure your vehicle. And the cost of a secure block-booked parking space far outweighs increased insurance premiums.”
About 24 7 Parking:
Established in 2002, 24 7 Parking are experts in finding car parking in London and across the UK. Whether clients are looking for a months’ parking or a years’ parking, 24 7 Parking will find the most convenient and cost effective options.
Contact details:
24 7 Parking Limited,
309 Linen Hall,
162-168 Regent Street,
London
W1B 5TD
Tel: 020 7183 7247
Email: info@247parking.com
Affordable parking for York motorists, whatever congestion charges or road tolls are introduced
26 February 2010
With York the latest UK city to consider introducing either a London-style congestion charge or a combination of toll rods and parking levies on local businesses, many commuters are already looking at alternatives.
The City Of York Council is currently going through a period of consultation, looking at various schemes to avoid gridlock, predicted to make the city’s roads unusable over the next ten years.
According to Councillor Dave Merrett, chairman of of York Council’s cross-party traffic congestion scrutiny committee: “A radical future solution will be required if we are to avoid the further serious spread of congestion outside the current problem areas, increasing delays and disruption to motorists and bus users, continuing air quality problems and negative effects on both the York economy and the quality of life in the city.”
But some local residents and commuters to the city are cynical about the Council’s consultation.
“They call it a consultation, but it’s a plan for yet another stealth tax on motorists. And whatever they say, whatever the opposition, you just know that they will go ahead with it. Public transport in York just isn’t up to the job of handling commuters, tourists and shoppers. If they force drivers off the roads with prohibitive charges, the damage to local businesses will be catastrophic,” one disgruntled driver told 24 7 Parking.
24 7 Parking has wide experience in sourcing parking spaces in London and has now rolled out its service across the UK, including in the City of York.
“Whatever decision York’s councillors come to, we are here for motorists,” says 247 Parking MD Julia Callan. “Although it makes sense to use public transport if you can, for many businessmen and tradesmen, there is no alternative to the car. If taxes are levied on existing parking places, we can find affordable alternative parking at a discount for York’s motorists. We can also find parking for motorists around the boundaries of the congestion charge or toll road zone. We have helped many London motorists beat high congestion charge and parking fees. York’s drivers should contact us as soon as possible.”
About 24 7 Parking:
Established in 2002, 24 7 Parking are experts in finding car parking in London and across the UK. Whether clients are looking for a months’ parking or a years’ parking, 24 7 Parking will find the most convenient and cost effective options.
Contact details:
24 7 Parking Limited,
309 Linen Hall,
162-168 Regent Street,
London
W1B 5TD
Tel: 020 7183 7247
Email: info@247parking.com
Long Term Parking In Waterloo From A Leading Provider
26 February 2010
The regular commuter to Waterloo will be aware of the difficulties encountered when trying to find suitable, long term parking in Waterloo.
It is one of the most sought after areas for parking in London and being within the congestion zone will not be cheap. It is very possible for the hourly charge for car parking in Waterloo to be more than the minimum wage.
There are however a number of ways to find cheap car parking in Waterloo.
The first will obviously be to spend time driving around the area looking for that elusive cheap parking space each day.
This approach, however, will simply not be an option for most. There just aren’t enough hours in the day. One could end up with parking in Waterloo that is anything but convenient and on having found the space one day, find it is not available the next.
The second option, which is rapidly growing in popularity, is that of pre-booking your long term car parking space in Waterloo.
At 24 7 Parking, we have been sourcing long term parking in London for both individuals and companies alike since 2002.
As a company, we do not restrict our searches to the traditional car parking areas. We have benefited our customers by providing secure off street parking at significantly reduced prices in comparison to the traditional car parks.
That doesn’t mean that our off street parking offered is out of the way. We have found numerous unique locations and are now recognised as one of the leading providers of car parking in London.
Help For Sourcing Long Term Parking In London
25 February 2010
For any company that is based in London wanting to look after their key personnel and customers, being able to offer long term parking facilities for free or at a discounted rate could help.
Everyone who works or regularly visits London will be more than aware of the pressure on car parking in London and there is little hope on the horizon for the problem to be alleviated.
Put simply, the demand for buildings and office space offers far better financial benefit for most developers than car parking space.
As most will have realised, car parking in London is one of the areas where costs just seem to keep rising.
As the government strives to reduce public spending by restricting funding awards to borough councils, year in, year out, there will be increased pressure on these very same borough councils to generate further income. It is pretty much inevitable, unfortunately, that the charges for car parking in London will increase as councils strive to generate income.
At 24 7 Parking we have been providing safe, secure long term parking in London since 2002 and now have thousands of customers, both individuals and companies, who regularly take advantage of our skills in sourcing long term parking in central London.
Many of the car parking in central London on offer is either CCTV controlled or manned by security guards, so any threat to personal safety and the vehicle whilst parked is kept to a minimum.
The number of people looking to secure cheap, long term parking in London will increase proportionately and that is where we can help.
