Sensible private parking control!

[FTMDave]

I know I've posted a few similar threads over the years, so at the risk of boring you all ...

Work today took me to the industrial area of the Italian town of Rovigo.  The town is infamous among locals as being impossible to find a parking space in.  Logically enough that makes businesses in the centre which have a car park a target for abusive parking,

On the way I saw that something that was a disused building last time I passed that way has now been transformed into an Aldi, so I stopped to stretch my legs, kill time and pick up some odds & ends.  To my surprise a barrier blocked my way, which is strange in Italy.  I pressed a button on a machine, a piece of paper was spat out, and the barrier rose and let me in.

I was a bit worried about messing something up and, as I can speak Italian, I read the instructions on a payment machine next to the supermarket entrance and also spoke to the check-out staff.

Anyway, all very easy.  There are 90 minutes free parking.  On the way out, the bit of paper the entrance machine had spat out had a bar code which I scanned onto the exit machine, the barrier was raised and I was on my merry way.

The supermarket isn't very big, there would be no reason to stay longer than 90 minutes.

But what if someone did?  What if they started nattering to other shoppers they recognised (an Italian pastime) and lost track of the time or they did abuse the car park and wandered off round the town centre?  Well, they would have to pay €9/£7.85 at the payment machine.  Money that would go, presumably, to the supermarket.  Hefty, but not £60.  It's €9 an hour, so someone would have to park for nine hours to rack up £60.

That seemed to me to be a sensible way to do things.  Genuine customers aren't punished.  There is no way a motorist can get a nasty surprise later (you either pay or the barrier doesn't let you out).  The money for overstaying is not completely unreasonable and goes to the local business.  No role for any fleecing private parking company.

But obviously this is far, far too complicated to happen in Britain

[dx100uk]

i think it boils down to there is an obvious NEED for it where that car park is.

in the uk there never was and there still remains NO NEED for any need for private parking companies.

the original roots, which go back very many many years, date to a time whereby a VERY small number of individuals dreamt up a money making scheme and began offering a service to private land owners, to clamp and tow vehicles that were not permitted on their 'private land' as they were trespassing. after many years it was eventually outlawed as 99% of the land was NOT GATED.

thats when the PPC 's had to change tact...

dx

 

[Nicky Boy]

When the new government guidelines eventually come in, I suspect the PPC's will slowly start disappearing with no easy money.

Then we'll have nothing to do!