“City Council Leader Jon Collins and Cllr Nick McDonald (Executive Assistant for Economic Development) had their meeting with the concerned business community of central Nottingham last Wednesday.

How much longer do they actually NEED, to do what they must by now realise that they HAVE to do - that is, suspend the late night and Sunday parking charges forthwith and until further notice 'while an internal review takes place', or whatever form of words they come up with to save their faces.

They could also blame each other, which would be quite amusing, or one of the other usual suspects, eg Cllr Urqhart, for the fiasco the City Council seems to have created all by itself out of nothing.”

“I think the City Council are actually running scared on this one!

If so, well done to all those shopkeepers, business proprietors, night-time visitors and Nottingham Post Bloggers for keeping up the pressure on the Council and providing the 'nudge' which apparently contributed to them 'reconsidering their position' over the matter of parking charges in the City.

Just goes to show what CAN be achieved if the spotlight of publicity is shone straight into the eyes of those individuals responsible for unpopular measures taken by a council which appears to be out of its depth and is certainly out-of-touch with what people in Nottingham want, or see as fair.

Remember the recent fiasco when Taxi drivers had a go-slow through the city center as a result of another money-grabbing scheme where the number of taxis, and their fees, were increased by the council without providing parking spaces for them? Again, in this case, the council 'reconsidered its position' after some direct and well publicised action.

"They don't like it up 'em!" to quote Cpl. Jones, seems to be the message to be drawn from this episode.”

“Good post Paulr27.
Remember that same bloody awfull woman was getting ever so excited about the new Nottm station car park! Another horrific construction to greet you as you enter the station.
It looks like it was constucted from the remains of the twin towers!”

“Why should I use a bus to get to from Arnold to Nottm in the evening for dinner and cinema when I have a perfectly good (warm) car and there is ample on street parking.

I nearly came home last night after failing to get into the cinema showing I wanted and having a two hour wait. I was then told by a traffic warden I wouldn't get a ticket as it was free after 8pm which was when my ticket expired.

I then spent £35 on dinner and watched the film.

Take away the stress and hassle of using the city at night and continue to enjoy us spending money their, otherwise it will be spent in Arnold one way or another. Has the Gedling parking fee fiasco not taught you anything?”

“Why does everyone seem to think you have to drive into Nottingham for a night out?

I regularly go to Nottinhgam for a drink, meal and to the Theatre, but never use my car on those occasions. Apart from anything else, you can't have a decent drink if you are driving.

Most areas around Nottingham have good public transport links - bus, tram or train. Not everyone lives out in the sticks and has to use a car.”

“Micky 47

Why not try travelling by train instead of driving when you come to Nottingham to dine?

Journey time Mansfield to Nottingham about 35 minutes. £5.80 return. No bother with finding and paying for a parking space; and no worries about drinking and driivng. Last train back 23.05.”

“Don't hold your breath..”

“It is certainly good news that councilors are admitting that they got it wrong! What a pity that they failed to heed the very large number of warnings about what a total disaster extending the hours of pay and display parking would be.

The sooner that this crazy scheme is scrapped the better as local firms are losing thousands of pounds every day they delay. Many people feel that Jon Collins was very dishonest that he deliberately failed to mention the plans for extended parking charges during the local elections last May. It also seems wrong that such a controversial scheme can be forced upon us almost single handedly by Ms Urquhart – the majority of councilors were not able to discuss or vote on the matter. So far Ms Urquahart seems unable to produce a SINGLE document to substantiate her wild and unrealistic claims about why this crazy scheme was ever necessary in the first place. She has indeed been totally negligent and incompetent as she also seems to have failed to have looked into many viable alternatives which would have increased the number of parking spaces without extra charge to the public. If Ms Urquahart worked for about 99% of organizations in the UK then I am quite certain she would have been sacked many weeks ago over this complete fiasco.

The extra charges need to be scrapped immediately. We do not want any complicated red tape schemes introduced just simply scrap these extra charges.”

“We are going to get this shiny new tram come hell or high water. The few with any need or money left to use it will be able take in wonderful views of boarded up shops and restaurants as it meanders around a dead city.”

“The price of on street parking should be halved £1 for 30mins double what it was less han a year a go.
i went into Nottinham to pick up something that i had ordered from a shop in the Vic centre' It was just after lunch and most parking spaces were vacant but the parking wardens were hiding waiting to pounce if you tried to pinch 5 minutes of fre parking.
Will the last person vacating Nottingham please switch off the lights and Collins and his cronies will be happy.”