Vandals glue up parking meters in Weston-super-Mare as council plans to hike up fees
Superglue was used to seal up coin slots on parking metersVandals have glued up parking meters on Weston-super-Mare seafront – at the same time as the council has agreed to hike up fees.
Motorists attempting to pay at parking meters on Knightstone Island found payment slots on two machines had been vandalised and the coin slots sealed with superglue.
Repairs have now been carried out to fix the machines and an investigation into the damage launched.
A North Somerset Council spokesman said: "We have had an issue with two parking meters being glued up at Knightstone Island.
"This is criminal damage and we are taking the incident very seriously.
"The machines have been repaired and are working and we are investigating the incident."
People have taken to social media, posting on the Facebook page Weston Parking Action Group, to comment on the vandalism.
Shane Webber said: “We should just superglue the lot up.”
Matthew Netherot Slater added: “We should do this all this over town.”
Motorists will have to pay more to park in Weston-super-Mare from February as council has agreed a price hike. There are also plans to introduce charges on Sundays.
Bristol City Council made £9.5million in profit on parking charges.It is not just the parking machines which have suffered abuse.
Parking wardens – who hit the streets in April when the council took over enforcing on-street parking regulations from Avon and Somerset Constabulary – have also been subject to abuse.
One warden had to call police for help after being threatened by a motorist he had issued a ticket to.
Another warden was punched in the back of the head by a man, who also tried to push him over the sea wall at Knightstone Island after being issued a fine.
Other wardens have been subject to abusive comments on Facebook, with those being issued tickets threatening to track down where they live.
The vandalism comes at the same time as council chiefs have agreed to increase its on and off street parking fees – and are considering introducing them on Sundays – as it struggles to plug a £10million funding gap in next year’s budget.
Charges will rise from £1.30 an hour to £1.50 for one hour and from £2.50 to £3 for two hours.
The charges will also apply earlier in the day, starting from 8am rather than 9am.
The charges to park at Marine Parade and on Weston beach all day from the beginning of March to the end of September will also rise from £8 to £10.
These changes are due to come into force at the beginning of February.
Fees could also be introduced in Kewstoke, where it has previously been free to park.
Motorists could face paying 20p for half an hour at the Beach Road car park and bus terminal, 50p for one hour and £1 for two hours.
There are also plans to increase parking charges at Worle Railway Station to bring them in line with other stations in the district.
Motorists could also be charged to park on Sundays – which has previously been free.
However further consultation will be carried out on these proposed charges.
The hike in fees is just one of the ways the council is looking to generate extra revenue to fill a £10million funding gap in its finances next year.
The council estimates the increase in parking fees could bring in an additional £200,000 in revenue.
A spokesman said: “North Somerset Council, like many councils across the country, is facing a very difficult budget-setting process for 2018/19.
“Having already incorporated £90million of revenue savings into our budget since 2010, the continuing fall of government funding, alongside significant increases in our social care demand-led services, are projected to leave the council with having to find further savings in excess of £10million next year.”
Revenue generated from the parking increases will be ploughed into car park improvements and will pay for the enforcement scheme.
http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/local-news/vandals-glue-up-parking-meters-883378
