Brighton and Hove businesses welcome parking charge U-turn

1:10pm Tuesday 8th January 2013 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter

Campaigners Max Leviston from Brighton Sea Life Centre and Laura Sackett celebrate the news Buy this photo » Campaigners Max Leviston from Brighton Sea Life Centre and Laura Sackett celebrate the news

Parking tariffs are to be frozen and even reduced in the wake of public pressure to Park The Charges.

In a victory for people power, Brighton and Hove City Council has announced there will be no increases to the majority of its on and off-street parking rates from April.

In the face of mass criticism of last year’s rises, tariffs in the most controversial areas, such as the seafront and London Road, will be reduced.

But while businesses will gain from the relaxing of the rates, residents will be forced to pay more for permits to mitigate the cuts.

Driven away

Businesses, residents and visitors have all claimed the Green administration’s decision to charge up to £20 a day has driven people away.

While partly blaming the wet weather and the economic situation, transport bosses now admit there has been a drop in parking numbers of up to 60% in some areas.

This has created a £200,000 black hole in the council’s budget.

However, officials have refused to revert back to 2011/12 prices claiming it would not meet their aim to reduce congestion and push people towards more sustainable forms of transport.

Lost business

Ann Townsend, who has campaigned against the charges in London Road, said: “It has been a disaster.

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“If the council has lost out on £200,000, how much has been lost to businesses?

“It is good to see public pressure has worked.”

Under proposals to be discussed by councillors next week, on street pay and display charges will be frozen in 2013/14 – a reduction in real terms when inflation is taken into account.

Prices will also be reduced in London Road and the seafront areas.

Parking permits

However, the cost of 22,500 resident parking permits will be increased to partly cover the concession.

Charges at Trafalgar Street and Regency Square car park, which will be renamed Brighton Centre, will be increased following worth more than £4 million of work.

Business and trader permits will be halved for low emission vehicles.

But appeals to reintroduce 30 minute tariffs and give free parking in Norton Road in Hove at weekends have been ignored for being too costly.

It marks a change of policy for the Green administration which raised city centre prices to £3.50 an hour and up to £20 a day on the seafront 12 months ago.

'Tackle congestion'

In a statement, transport committee chairman Ian Davey claimed the new plans were “positive”, adding: “These proposals help meet the needs of residents and tourists while maintaining vital work to tackle congestion and reduce air pollution in the city centre.

“These plans will also compliment our excellent public transport system that provides for residents and the growing number of visitors to the city.”

Max Leviston, of Madeira Drive Traders’ Association, said: “I’m certain it will help.

“£15 for a day is at the top end of parking charges, but when you look at NCP car parks both in the city and elsewhere I think they have got it right.”

'Excessive charges'

Nick Head, of Brighton and Hove Hoteliers’ Association, said: “The news could be better but it is extremely welcome.

“We have all lost a lot of business due to the excessive charges.”

Conservative councillor Graham Cox said: “It would be churlish not to welcome this change of heart by the Greens.

“However, we feel that many charges are still too high.”

Labour councillor Gill Mitchell said: “The Greens’ parking strategy is clearly not working - they are not listening to residents or councillors who are calling for a more sensible fee structure. Their whole parking policy is in chaos.”

Planned Parking Charges

Madeira Drive and the seafront (summer)

One hour £3 (was £3.50)

Two hours £5 (was £6)

Eight hours scrapped (was £15)

11 hours £15 (was £20)

Summer season, which was April to September, now March to October (inclusive).

New Steine, Cheapside and The Level on-street

1 hour £2 (was £3.50)

2 hours £4 (was £6)

4 hours £6 (was £10)

Resident parking permits

1 year (full scheme) £120 (was £115)

1 year (light touch) £90 (was £80)

Visitor permits

Full scheme (per permit) £2.60 (was £2.50)

Light touch (per permit) £1.60 (was £1.50)

Traders permits

One year £600 (no change)

3 months £160 (no change)

One year - low emission £300 (down from £600)

3 months - low emission £80 (down from £160)

Business permits

One year £300 (no change)

3 months £85 (no change)

One year - low emission £150 (down from £300)

3 months - low emission £42.50 (down from £85)

Argus Comment

When the new parking charges were introduced in April 2012, the Green-led city council believed they would reduce congestion and push people towards more sustainable forms of transport.

They would also raise an additional £1.3 million towards its budget.

Has it been a success?

Overall, the local authority says there have been 3% fewer transactions than planned for, resulting in a £200,000 budget black hole.

Official figures produced show that every month from April to October saw a reduction in paid-for hours across the city.

Falling numbers

April saw the biggest drop – a reduction from 815,000 hours in 2011 to 672,000 in 2012.

Only August had comparable numbers, with use reducing from 852,000 to 851,000.

In addition, the local authority said parking transactions in Madeira Drive, where parking costs up to £20 a day during the summer, have reduced by 22%.

In the same period, visits to London Road decreased by 10% yet stays in its off-street car park, where favourable rates are offered, increased by 20%.

In comparison, there was a 5% increase in journeys on Brighton and Hove buses in the last year.

The council also claims trips made on foot and by bike are also generally increasing although there are no official figures to support this.

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Comments(54)

Mr_Tom says...
1:19pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Raising parking charges does not push people to use public transport in this town as that is ridiculously expensive too! the local council needs to realise that if they want people to spend money in this town they will have to provide an affordable park and ride system or somesuch, instead of relying on the overburdened NCP car-parks at churchill sq etc.. I tried to get up West st just before christmas and the que ran all the way down and past the front of the Odeon.. it's ridiculous.. only a moron would presume that this is helping the environment.. where are the out-of-centre car parks, cheap shuttle buses / park and ride systems and pedestrian areas? it's still a road-filled craphole.. just an expensive, filthy, road filled craphole.....

Report this post »

mrs m ward says...
1:26pm Tue 8 Jan 13

keep the pressure up.The council is there to provide a service to those that
pay its wages,not dictate to them.

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Phani Tikkala says...
1:33pm Tue 8 Jan 13

So, it's clear.....

The green policy is to reduce the number of cars coming into the city centre/seafront, no matter what cost to local businesses.

Political suicide.

Report this post »

s&k says...
1:49pm Tue 8 Jan 13

The Council have listened. That's a good thing and all credit to them for that.

Report this post »

s&k says...
1:49pm Tue 8 Jan 13

The Council have listened. That's a good thing and all credit to them for that.

Report this post »

DC Brighton says...
2:02pm Tue 8 Jan 13

So traders and businesses are complaining about the parking charges affecting trade yet residents are covering the "shortfall". I hadn't realised that, as a Brighton resident, I was going to be subsidising local business.

If local businesses think reducing parking charges will help them then this should be something they are gambling some of their money on, not me.

Furthermore, if the scheme is successful then the "black hole" of £200k (it is a black hole only because the council got its predictions wrong) should be filled by the additional hours spent parking at the cheaper rate, not by charging Brighton residents another £5 to park outside their houses. Well, it would if any kind of analysis had taken place, which seems very unlikely given the proposal.

This really is very simple supply and demand.

I shall spend £5 less on buses this year then which won't be difficult - that's one return trip these days.

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thevoiceoftruth says...
2:07pm Tue 8 Jan 13

s&k wrote:
The Council have listened. That's a good thing and all credit to them for that.
I wouldn't go that far. From what I could see they were sticking their fingers in their ears singing 'tra la la'. However, money talks and this catastrophic idea has lost them £200,000. Well done the council *slow hand clap*.

Report this post »

Kate234 says...
2:42pm Tue 8 Jan 13

The Green party should hold their head in shame at this news and the £200,000 shortfall should be deducted from their salaries to give them a taste of what this policy has cost ordinary people in the city. The parking increases have been catastrophic for businesses in the City and this reckless decision has cost jobs and I am sure many people their living. The cost to businesses has been immense and will take years after the Green party gets thrown out to recover. People don't just come back overnight. The city is being run by a someone that has changed his name to that of a chocolate bar and we are paying for this big time. Lets get rid of the greens and have no more Caroline Fish Fingers, Ian Cornflakes or any other ridiculous Green politicians in the town again. I'm sure no other party could possibly do a worst job.

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Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit says...
2:48pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Doesn't worry me as I don't pay the charges. Used to in the 'old days' (used to go to town on the bus as well) but it's all so expensive we've had to change our habits. If we shop in Brighton (as opposed to going elsewhere) we do the 'shopping shuttle' whereby one of us drives the other into town, drops them off, drives home - and then repeats the journey to pick them up. Four journeys instead of two thereby increasing congestion as opposed to reducing it. I think that's called the 'Law of Unintended Consequences'.

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MegA69 says...
2:51pm Tue 8 Jan 13

When will the council start listening to business people? We know what makes out town tick. We want Brighton to be a thriving place for business, development and commerce. The Green Party council does not and the ill-informed decisions they make off the cuff and the lethargy within the council around all things related to business activities is lamentable. God help the business people of Brighton with this lot.

Report this post »

Hoarder12345444 says...
3:06pm Tue 8 Jan 13

So Maderia drive was £3.50 and will now be £3? Oh great yeah that will help!! It was £1 before and free until 8pm!! That is just pathetic. The Greens are obsessed with making money out of the motorist. And no, I will not use public transport as both the buses and trains are prohibitively expensive and go up all the time. Think I'll be shopping in Crawley and Worthing more, much cheaper there, they want peoples business.

Report this post »

Mark63 says...
3:09pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Good to see that there are some reductions, but the Lanes Car Park wanted me to pay £4 an hour last weekend, so I drove straight back out - its a criminal tax on visitors and locals alike - no wonder people are turning away in their droves - they won't be back either. I've stopped using the City Centre because of the appalling charges - other places are far more welcoming and much easier and cheaper to park in... Thanks Greens - still ruining Brighton and Hove!

Report this post »

ThinkBrighton says...
3:14pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Another Greens B**LS up
Vote them out

Report this post »

Fight_Back says...
3:18pm Tue 8 Jan 13

So the Greens were so naive that they didn't realise that if they increased parking charges then the income was likely to drop. They now have a £200k blackhole !

Let's now examine their new idea of increasing significantly charges for sports facilities. Hmmmm ...... I wonder what's going to happen ....... ah yes ..... another blackhole and U turn.

Really, are Kitcat and his merry dunces REALLY this thick ?

Report this post »

gbfroggy says...
4:12pm Tue 8 Jan 13

I don't get the logic there. Please let me know if i am stupid?
The council has increased the price of parking to discourage people from coming by car....
It should therefore be very pleased of itself for the drop of people coming by car.....
However it changes its angle when it comes to money....we don't talk of victory but of a shorfall of earnings...
So who pays...the local people...absolute nonsense!!!
Dear council you can't have the cake and eat it. What do you want exactly, a reduction of traffic or a cash cow...

Report this post »

Hoarder12345444 says...
4:14pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Mark63 wrote:
Good to see that there are some reductions, but the Lanes Car Park wanted me to pay £4 an hour last weekend, so I drove straight back out - its a criminal tax on visitors and locals alike - no wonder people are turning away in their droves - they won't be back either. I've stopped using the City Centre because of the appalling charges - other places are far more welcoming and much easier and cheaper to park in... Thanks Greens - still ruining Brighton and Hove!
Yeah its like churchill square, that is an absolute rip off that car park, the company that runs it must make an absolute fortune.

Report this post »

BornInBrighton1968 says...
5:02pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Now is the time for all Brighton men and women of good charachter to stand up and say "Let's get the Greens out of Brighton!". Just because they we voted in by students (who thought that they were being trendy and alternative by voting Green, but still fly-tip at the end of term when they dump their rubbish to go home to mummy and daddy) doesn't mean that hard-working council tax payers have to put up with he Greens.

If we all work together, we can remove the Greens from power in a matter of months!

Report this post »

xc90chris says...
5:11pm Tue 8 Jan 13

A number of comments about voting the greens out, there is actually a petition currently running on the council's website at http://present.brigh
ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP
etitionDisplay.aspx?
Id=360 - have you all signed it?

Report this post »

just-a-person says...
5:27pm Tue 8 Jan 13

xc90chris wrote:
A number of comments about voting the greens out, there is actually a petition currently running on the council's website at http://present.brigh

ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP

etitionDisplay.aspx?

Id=360 - have you all signed it?
No I had not heard of this. Thanks for sharing and I will be signing right now.

Report this post »

just-a-person says...
5:33pm Tue 8 Jan 13

I would like to know if any of the Green Party members own a car ? Anyone know ? Pictures would be great.

Report this post »

NickBrt says...
5:53pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Another example of ill thoughts dogma from the greens, yawn.

Report this post »

george smith says...
6:12pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Where is H Jarrs?

Report this post »

Joe Average says...
6:14pm Tue 8 Jan 13

We need cars full of people with money to spend.
Money to the Council for parking or spent with local traders? Nuff said.

Report this post »

fredaj says...
6:19pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Kate234 wrote:
The Green party should hold their head in shame at this news and the £200,000 shortfall should be deducted from their salaries to give them a taste of what this policy has cost ordinary people in the city. The parking increases have been catastrophic for businesses in the City and this reckless decision has cost jobs and I am sure many people their living. The cost to businesses has been immense and will take years after the Green party gets thrown out to recover. People don't just come back overnight. The city is being run by a someone that has changed his name to that of a chocolate bar and we are paying for this big time. Lets get rid of the greens and have no more Caroline Fish Fingers, Ian Cornflakes or any other ridiculous Green politicians in the town again. I'm sure no other party could possibly do a worst job.
Slagging people off because of their name is about as childish as it gets and out of interest, Kitcat is Jason's real name.

It's an old English one I believe.

Report this post »

fredaj says...
6:22pm Tue 8 Jan 13

BornInBrighton1968 wrote:
Now is the time for all Brighton men and women of good charachter to stand up and say "Let's get the Greens out of Brighton!". Just because they we voted in by students (who thought that they were being trendy and alternative by voting Green, but still fly-tip at the end of term when they dump their rubbish to go home to mummy and daddy) doesn't mean that hard-working council tax payers have to put up with he Greens.

If we all work together, we can remove the Greens from power in a matter of months!
If "hard working tax payers" had got off their bums and voted last time, the Greens would not have got it.

Perhaps just proves that people not only get the politicians they vote for, but also the ones they deserve.

Report this post »

Ballroom Blitz says...
7:28pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Hardly a u turn. More like a 10 degree turn. Too little, too late.

Report this post »

Ballroom Blitz says...
7:34pm Tue 8 Jan 13

I work in retail in the Lanes, and we have had our worst Christmas period ever.
Unconnected to the ludicrously high parking charges? I don't think so. Customers complain on a daily basis.

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Maxwell's Ghost says...
8:05pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Only the naive would think that putting parking parking prices up would change behaviour.
It purely changed the destination of motorists.....also local radio was advertising some astonishingly cheap Christmas shopping trips by rail to London.

Report this post »

Dealing with idiots says...
8:14pm Tue 8 Jan 13

just-a-person wrote:
I would like to know if any of the Green Party members own a car ? Anyone know ? Pictures would be great.
Ms Lucas has a Landrover.

Report this post »

Ballroom Blitz says...
8:21pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Maxwell's Ghost wrote:
Only the naive would think that putting parking parking prices up would change behaviour.
It purely changed the destination of motorists.....also local radio was advertising some astonishingly cheap Christmas shopping trips by rail to London.
Exactly Maxwell. Why go to Brighton, with its mental parking charges, when you can go to a similar massive shopping mall in Crawley, where I think they had NO parking charges on the Sunday before Xmas! And their charges are half the Churchill Square prices even on normal days.

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Idontbelieveit1948 says...
8:28pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Ballroom Blitz wrote:
Hardly a u turn. More like a 10 degree turn. Too little, too late.
Couldn't agree more. This is hardly a victory, merely a slight reduction which still leaves parking charges hiked by many times inflation.

A victory would be returnng to March 2012 charges, prior to the hike, and then retuning to adding inflationary charges each April.

This little gesture will make no difference.

Report this post »

just-a-person says...
8:41pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Dealing with idiots wrote:
just-a-person wrote:
I would like to know if any of the Green Party members own a car ? Anyone know ? Pictures would be great.
Ms Lucas has a Landrover.
"Caroline is the MP for Brighton Pavilion. She served as Leader of the Green Party of England & Wales from 2008 to 2012.
A passionate campaigner on the environment, social justice and human rights, Caroline was voted the UK's Most Ethical Politician in 2007, 2009 and 2010 by Observer readers, and is one of the Environment Agency's Top 100 Eco-Heroes.
Caroline lives in Brighton with her husband and two sons."
I just read that on her website. A passionate campaigner on the environment but drives a Landrover !!! Brilliant.

Report this post »

Idontbelieveit1948 says...
8:51pm Tue 8 Jan 13

just-a-person wrote:
Dealing with idiots wrote:
just-a-person wrote:
I would like to know if any of the Green Party members own a car ? Anyone know ? Pictures would be great.
Ms Lucas has a Landrover.
"Caroline is the MP for Brighton Pavilion. She served as Leader of the Green Party of England & Wales from 2008 to 2012.
A passionate campaigner on the environment, social justice and human rights, Caroline was voted the UK's Most Ethical Politician in 2007, 2009 and 2010 by Observer readers, and is one of the Environment Agency's Top 100 Eco-Heroes.
Caroline lives in Brighton with her husband and two sons."
I just read that on her website. A passionate campaigner on the environment but drives a Landrover !!! Brilliant.
Not only a Landrover but also five homes - all very enviromentaly friendly I hope !

Report this post »

Hoarder12345444 says...
8:52pm Tue 8 Jan 13

just-a-person wrote:
Dealing with idiots wrote:
just-a-person wrote:
I would like to know if any of the Green Party members own a car ? Anyone know ? Pictures would be great.
Ms Lucas has a Landrover.
"Caroline is the MP for Brighton Pavilion. She served as Leader of the Green Party of England & Wales from 2008 to 2012.
A passionate campaigner on the environment, social justice and human rights, Caroline was voted the UK's Most Ethical Politician in 2007, 2009 and 2010 by Observer readers, and is one of the Environment Agency's Top 100 Eco-Heroes.
Caroline lives in Brighton with her husband and two sons."
I just read that on her website. A passionate campaigner on the environment but drives a Landrover !!! Brilliant.
she lives in Belgium I thought

Report this post »

Maxwell's Ghost says...
8:52pm Tue 8 Jan 13

I went into Churchill Square car park on a weekday just before Christmas for a business meeting nearby.
I had a number of meetings all over Sussex and a busy diary so had to use my car. It cost me £10 to park in the car park which shocked me and the person I was meeting who was from outside the city.
The only positive was the car park was surprisingly empty.
All future meetings have been scheduled for hotels at Gatwick. Free parking, rail and car connections.

Report this post »

Grumpy0ldman says...
9:35pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Try taking a push bike into Brighton .. It's easy..... Lots of room on the multi million pound bike lanes along dyke road and old shoreham road.... And lots of room. I only saw 3 bikes on them on my journey into Brighton on Monday Another classic waste of money

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Over the hill and far away says...
9:37pm Tue 8 Jan 13

I'm a motorist and the massive hike in parking fees in central Brighton has really put me off bringing my car into town. Sometimes it's unavoidable but I definitely do use the bus more now. To those who say the buses are too expensive I would say look on the bus company website or go to One Stop Travel and find out what your options are. It's only expensive if you pay as you go on the bus - if you buy Saver tickets (or use the smartcard) it's really amazing value. For less than £3.50 you can travel all over the city (and as far afield as Tunbridge Wells, Eastbourne and Shoreham, to name but a few places) for the whole day. And children with a bus id card can travel with an adult for 30p a journey. The bus doesn't suit everyone but compared with the costs of driving in Brighton I think you'd be hard pressed to beat it. (And I don't work for B&H buses ;-) )

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Weirdorama says...
10:59pm Tue 8 Jan 13

The greens have seen sense! The pigs have flown.

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funkyyoyo says...
12:24am Wed 9 Jan 13

does this black hole amount of money include the £30 repainting cost to all the unenforcable illegal parking bays in brighton,which guess whos paying for?? nice to see ian worral the council parking grovellor on bbc 1 last night 'parking mad' never mind the guy saying the sign was missing,it wasnt the statuory distance from the start of the 'lane' as none of them are hahahahahahahahahaha
ha

Report this post »

Kate234 says...
4:24am Wed 9 Jan 13

Congratulations useless Greens. More negative national publicity for tourism in the city created by them in the Daily Mail today. Shock, surprise parking has been more exploited by the council in Brighton than by any other council outside London. When will they just leave and give back their salaries on the way out.

Report this post »

BornInBrighton1968 says...
6:38am Wed 9 Jan 13

george smith wrote:
Where is H Jarrs?
Helping to build 'Brussels' Lucas's UFO research centre?

Report this post »

xc90chris says...
8:16am Wed 9 Jan 13

A number of comments about voting the greens out, there is actually a petition currently running on the council's website at
http://present.brigh
ton-hove.gov.uk/mgEP
etitionDisplay.aspx?
Id=360 -

have you all signed it?

Report this post »

Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit says...
8:17am Wed 9 Jan 13

I'm sorry, I do not believe that Caroline Lucas possesses a Landrover. I think that's just a scurrilous rumour as even by the standards of politicians that. would be breathtaking hypocrisy. She's not THAT bad.

Report this post »

Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit says...
8:19am Wed 9 Jan 13

Apologies for the errant full stop after 'that'. And the person who said it wasn't a U-turn, more a 10 degree turn was spot on.

Report this post »

Dealing with idiots says...
8:59am Wed 9 Jan 13

Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit wrote:
I'm sorry, I do not believe that Caroline Lucas possesses a Landrover. I think that's just a scurrilous rumour as even by the standards of politicians that. would be breathtaking hypocrisy. She's not THAT bad.
Seen driving away in one after speaking to students at Basvic late last year. .

Report this post »

Dealing with idiots says...
9:01am Wed 9 Jan 13

Understand the fragrant Dr turned down an opportunity to appear on Topgear as Clarkson wanted to ask' so what are you driving at the moment?'

Report this post »

Dealing with idiots says...
9:11am Wed 9 Jan 13

funkyyoyo wrote:
does this black hole amount of money include the £30 repainting cost to all the unenforcable illegal parking bays in brighton,which guess whos paying for?? nice to see ian worral the council parking grovellor on bbc 1 last night 'parking mad' never mind the guy saying the sign was missing,it wasnt the statuory distance from the start of the 'lane' as none of them are hahahahahahahahahaha ha
That was a rather delicious moment. Did any one capture that for Youtube?

Report this post »

MegA69 says...
9:12am Wed 9 Jan 13

Greens are anti-business. Never forget that. Caroline Lucas said in 2011 "“Advanced industrialised economies like ourselves cannot afford to go on growing"... So the Green party agenda is for economic stagnation... and doing stupid things like prohibitive charging for parking at a local level is one means of achieving it

Report this post »

Fairfax Sakes says...
9:32am Wed 9 Jan 13

I think the Greens have rather done Brighton a favour: by reducing the swarms of Londoners and other undesirable rabble, we are at least moving to a more exclusive clientele the city deserves. For those of us who can afford it, what does an extra few quid matter anyway. As for the sea side 'traders' selling tat and deep fried foods, better off well rid I should say.

Report this post »

Phani Tikkala says...
10:12am Wed 9 Jan 13

40p for 30 mins to park in Lewes... 60p an hour....

Report this post »

Hoarder12345444 says...
12:31pm Wed 9 Jan 13

Fairfax Sakes wrote:
I think the Greens have rather done Brighton a favour: by reducing the swarms of Londoners and other undesirable rabble, we are at least moving to a more exclusive clientele the city deserves. For those of us who can afford it, what does an extra few quid matter anyway. As for the sea side 'traders' selling tat and deep fried foods, better off well rid I should say.
You what? What is this middle class Toff drivel you speak of. Silly person.

Report this post »

Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit says...
2:52pm Wed 9 Jan 13

Fairfax Sakes wrote:
I think the Greens have rather done Brighton a favour: by reducing the swarms of Londoners and other undesirable rabble, we are at least moving to a more exclusive clientele the city deserves. For those of us who can afford it, what does an extra few quid matter anyway. As for the sea side 'traders' selling tat and deep fried foods, better off well rid I should say.
Agreed. Close down all those awful fast food places and chain stores and have all the shops as nice little boutiques selling handmade pashmina clothes and organic tofu. And when they've got all the poor people off the streets perhaps they'll make the parking spaces a bit bigger? After all we won't need so many and because of its size Jeeves does struggle to park the Rolls sometimes. These Green chaps aren't that bad at all really are they what what?

Report this post »

MaryBale says...
4:25pm Wed 9 Jan 13

When is this 'Green' council going to start giving the residents of Brighton an incentive to use buses by challenging the EXTORTIONATE fares of our virtual bus monopoly?

Report this post »

MuammarQaddafi says...
10:15am Thu 10 Jan 13

Welcome to the Alice In Wonderland world where you are supposed to feel good about robbers who promise to take only 2/3 as much booty from you as they used to.

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