Hot TOPICS 
County Hall quids in but poor worker out of pocket
(June 11, 2010)Warminster people can now see in black and white the true impact
of the impending car parking charges.
A public notice in the Warminster Journal
reveals the high level of car parking charges that shoppers, shop
workers and visitors will pay from 5 July.
"A full time shop worker on £5.80 a hour will have to find £15.40
each week under the cheapest option for off-street parking," said Paul
Macdonald.
"This means after tax and NI they will have to work at least three
hours for the privilege of having a job in Warminster.
''Once again the Tories have shown their true colours penalising the poorest villagers."
''Once again the Tories have shown their true colours penalising the poorest villagers."
The introduction of the car parking charges is the work of the
Sustainable Transport Group at County Hall which is now run by the new
Wiltshire Council.
It has ignored a massive petition organised by local shopkeepers,
rejected offers from the town council, and has announced the charges
will start on 5th July.
It took over the car parks from the West Wiltshire District
council which had struck a deal with the town council that allowed over
two hundred spaces with two hours free car parking to help the market
town.
Steve Dancey, a former county councillor, has already challenged the sustainability argument. (See hot topics).
Shoppers thinking of parking in the Chinns Yard Car Park or the Weymouth Street car park will have two choices.
Rushing around to visit the scores of small shops and businesses
that stretch from East Street to Silver Street and do their banking or
forking out a £1 to take a more leisurely two hours.
"Do not worry though," adds Paul Macdonald. "The advert says that
all other charges will remain unaltered so I imagine if you happen to
park badly crossing a parking bay line the fine will still be the same.
"Wiltshire Council - Where everybody's metered!"