Hi Nige,
It'll be the same all over the county - Devon & Cornwall Police are giving up responsibility for parking enforcement as from March 2008 - they'll be making their current traffic wardens redundant or redeploying them in the run up to that date. You'll notice a lack of them on the streets as from now so you'll be finding it easy to park. Those facing redundancy notices won't feel like "getting out there" and issuing tickets - will they?
DCC will then be taking over parking enforcement - they have an option of keeping it "in house" or franchising it out to a private company - if it's the latter then watch out!
As in Sidmouth, drivers can make hay while the sun shines 'cos DCC probably won't be ready to take over by March - its gonna be chaos mate!!
So parking in Exmouth is now going to be chaos? Nothing new there then eh.
There are already vehicles parked all over double yellow lines, on blind corners, close to traffic islands, in fact just about anywhere that causes an obstruction. The favouriter seems to be just outside car parks to avoid paying the fee. Who are the culprits, why mostly disabled badge holders of course who seem to believe they can park absolutely anywhere they choose, no matter how dangerous and how much inconvenience it causes everybody else.
You will usually find a number of these badge holders parked on the access road to the Magniolia car park whilst the disabled spaces within are invariably empty, spaces that are in fact a shorter walk to the shops. Why is that? To avoid paying the parking charges of course, charges that the rest of us cannot avoid.
A thorough review of disabled parking is surely long overdue.
I totally agree with you there Graham.
Sidmouth is rife with blue badge holders parking just about everywhere other than where it is legal. One of the favorite spots is at the Port Royal end of Sidmouth Esplanade - parked on double yellows reading a newspaper whilst other vehicles have to shunt about to get round them. I certainly sympathise with you in Exmouth.
I do not have any gripe with the blue badge per se - but I do have an issue with the way these badges are abused.
Hi Seadog
You may be interested in how Blue Badges are issued. Would you believe it is all done over the telephone, no reference to a doctor, no medical history, no need to give a car registration number. A quick chat over the phone, a brief form to fill in and there is your Blue Badge!
How do I know, a friend of mine has just recently done it and even she agrees that the system of issuing these passes is an absolute disgrace. The friend recalls when her mother had the earlier orange badge and had to go through her doctor to get it.
Wouldn't it be interesting to make up a bit of a story and try it....! Good job we are all honest eh.
I did say in my earlier letter that I had every sympathy with genuine disabled people but that comment was edited out for some reason
Perhaps I am missing something here.
Graham
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