Transport and streets:Residents parking: "Residents parking
The demand for parking in Westminster is ever increasing. With the limited amount of safe on-street parking space available, we believe residents should have priority in parking near their home and so have allocated specific spaces in which only residents can park with a Resident Parking Permit. In addition, the City of Westminster operates a resident parking scheme for off-street parking in our MasterPark car parks.
Renew your Resident Parking Permit online
Existing permit holders who have received the appropriate renewal letter with an online PIN are now able to renew their permits online.
If you have received a renewal letter, please renew your permit online now...
Please note that letters are usually sent out approximately three weeks before a permit is due to expire. If you have not received a renewal letter after this time, please contact us.
Parking on the Street
On-street parking within Westminster is divided into 8 different resident parking zones (A-H).
If you live in one of these zones and can prove that you own or use a vehicle, you may be entitled to a resident parking permit according to your residential address. Find out more about the Residents’ On-Street Parking Scheme.
Alternatively, you can also find out about renewing, updating, replacing or returning your permit.
Information regarding suspensions is also available online.
Parking in a Car Park
The City of Westminster operates a discounted residents' parking scheme for off-street parking - a Resident Season Ticket. Local residents may be eligible to buy a permit to park at a MasterPark car park, by providing proof of residency and ownership of the vehicle. Residents will be allocated to the car park closest to their address, subject to capacity limits.
On issue of a Resident Season Ticket the car park operator will provide you with a car park swipe card that will operate the car park barrier.
On-street permit holders also receive a 25% discount at any MasterPark car park at any time. In order to qualify for this discount, residents need only supply the car park Attendant with their on-street permit number at time of payment.
To find out more information about this scheme or any other MasterPark scheme, please visit MasterPark.
To apply for a MasterPark Season Ticket Application Pack, please contact MasterPark on freephone 0800 243 348"
Friday, October 13, 2006
Westminster Council's White badge conditions
Transport and streets:White badge conditions: "White badge conditions
What Are the Conditions for Using White Badges?
Your badge should be displayed in your vehicle, when the following conditions are met:
* when your vehicle is parked at your home, or place of work;
* when your car is being used to take you to or from somewhere; or
* when your vehicle is parked close to where you are being dropped off or picked up.
The badge should not be displayed if your vehicle is being used for any other reason.
Permit fraud will be prosecuted!
It is a criminal offence to deliberately make a false statement on your application form, or to use a disabled parking permit you are not entitled to. Those who commit permit fraud will be prosecuted and face large fines or imprisonment.
If you suspect someone of using a parking permit they are not entitled to please contact the Permit Fraud Hotline on 020 7641 5278."
What Are the Conditions for Using White Badges?
Your badge should be displayed in your vehicle, when the following conditions are met:
* when your vehicle is parked at your home, or place of work;
* when your car is being used to take you to or from somewhere; or
* when your vehicle is parked close to where you are being dropped off or picked up.
The badge should not be displayed if your vehicle is being used for any other reason.
Permit fraud will be prosecuted!
It is a criminal offence to deliberately make a false statement on your application form, or to use a disabled parking permit you are not entitled to. Those who commit permit fraud will be prosecuted and face large fines or imprisonment.
If you suspect someone of using a parking permit they are not entitled to please contact the Permit Fraud Hotline on 020 7641 5278."
Lambeth council has removed the performance-related profit element of its contract with Control Plus.
icSouthlondon - Playing fair with parking: "Playing fair with parking
Oct 13 2006
By Chief Reporter Greg Truscott
TRAFFIC wardens in a borough infamous for its controversial parking enforcement will no longer have to dole out a minimum number of tickets per shift.
Lambeth council has removed the performance-related profit element of its contract with Control Plus.
Previously, wardens had to issue a total of at least 4,000 tickets a week to maximise the company's profits.
Critics said it was this element that led to a high number of dodgy tickets being issued.
According to figures released in August, Lambeth issued 255,066 fines between April 2005 and March 2006. Neighbouring Southwark issued 135,000 and Lewisham 63,000."
But this week, Labour-run Lambeth announced it was to bring an end to the incentives system that had seen wardens too quick to dole out penalty charge notices (PCNs).
From November,Control Plus will not profit from reaching ticket targets but will instead be monitored and rewarded for treating motorists fairly.
Lambeth's cabinet member for environment, Councillor Lib Peck, said: 'For too long, the parking policy in Lambeth has not offered fairness to residents.
'It was a key pledge of this administration to make parking in Lambeth fairer for local people and we are delivering on that promise.
'This is a fresh start on parking policy. We have listened to residents who told us they were unhappy with the old system where too often parking attendants were overzealous, and we are putting in place a parking policy that is firm but fair.'
Cllr Peck said traffic wardens would be monitored to ensure they behaved properly and that 'mystery shoppers' would be used to test the parking enforcement service.
Traffic wardens will also be measured on the number of individual streets they visit so that they do not loiter in easy-to-ticket areas.
The contract with Control Plus is to be carefully monitored to ensure it provides a fair service and will be fully reassessed when it comes up for renewal in 2008.
Lambeth's deputy cabinet member for parking and transport, Cllr Nigel Haselden, said: 'We will keep a close eye on the contract to make sure it is working for residents.'"
Oct 13 2006
By Chief Reporter Greg Truscott
TRAFFIC wardens in a borough infamous for its controversial parking enforcement will no longer have to dole out a minimum number of tickets per shift.
Lambeth council has removed the performance-related profit element of its contract with Control Plus.
Previously, wardens had to issue a total of at least 4,000 tickets a week to maximise the company's profits.
Critics said it was this element that led to a high number of dodgy tickets being issued.
According to figures released in August, Lambeth issued 255,066 fines between April 2005 and March 2006. Neighbouring Southwark issued 135,000 and Lewisham 63,000."
But this week, Labour-run Lambeth announced it was to bring an end to the incentives system that had seen wardens too quick to dole out penalty charge notices (PCNs).
From November,Control Plus will not profit from reaching ticket targets but will instead be monitored and rewarded for treating motorists fairly.
Lambeth's cabinet member for environment, Councillor Lib Peck, said: 'For too long, the parking policy in Lambeth has not offered fairness to residents.
'It was a key pledge of this administration to make parking in Lambeth fairer for local people and we are delivering on that promise.
'This is a fresh start on parking policy. We have listened to residents who told us they were unhappy with the old system where too often parking attendants were overzealous, and we are putting in place a parking policy that is firm but fair.'
Cllr Peck said traffic wardens would be monitored to ensure they behaved properly and that 'mystery shoppers' would be used to test the parking enforcement service.
Traffic wardens will also be measured on the number of individual streets they visit so that they do not loiter in easy-to-ticket areas.
The contract with Control Plus is to be carefully monitored to ensure it provides a fair service and will be fully reassessed when it comes up for renewal in 2008.
Lambeth's deputy cabinet member for parking and transport, Cllr Nigel Haselden, said: 'We will keep a close eye on the contract to make sure it is working for residents.'"
Council loses out in parking appeal
Council loses out in parking appeal
/By Karen Spibey <mailto:kspibey@burytimes.co.uk>/
BURY Council has lost out in a bid to overturn a Prestwich solicitor's
parking ticket victory - but is now considering another legal challenge.
Aubrey Isaacson is now calling on the council to admit that "enough is
enough" and to stop spending public funds on fighting the case.
Mr Isaacson initially won his case over an "invalid" parking ticket at a
hearing before the National Parking Adjudication Service in Manchester
in August.
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However, car parking bosses at the town hall launched an appeal against
the adjudicators' decision and called for a review.
Earlier last week, the adjudicator rejected Bury Council's request and
further criticised the authority for not amending its Traffic Regulation
Orders following de-criminalisation of parking offences in 2002.
Bury Council, however, said they STILL believe they have a strong case
against Mr Isaacson and are currently seeking legal advice on whether to
proceed to a judicial review. Mr Isaacson, who is now seeking recompense
for his time and effort, which has so far reached more than £1,600 for
his and a client's case. said: "I am Bury taxpayer and all I am asking
is that they stop throwing good money after bad. The money that has been
spent so far on this case, and what the legal department is proposing to
continue to spend seems an absolute waste, when they are clearly wrong."
Coun John Byrne, executive member for transport, said: "The fact remains
that Mr Isaacson did infringe the law when parking and I hope that we do
get his parking fine. We still believe we have a case and if counsel
confirms this then we will seek a judicial review. The adjudicator
brought up points that had not been raised previously and that is what
we objected to."
Following the adjudicators' decision, Bury Council were asked to set out
their reasons in full, within 14 days.
However, they failed to comply to these guidelines and the adjudicator
rejected their application for review on the grounds that they had not
provided sufficient details of their argument.
Mr Isaacson said: "Bury bungles again! They couldn't even get this
right. The adjudicator calls for commonsense when dealing with parking
enforcment, but sadly, commonsense seems to have gone out of the window
in the ever increasing search by local authorities for revenue form the
motorist."
Mr Isaacson had received his parking ticket for not parking correctly
within white lines on the Longfield Centre car park. After studying the
Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), he discovered that Bury Council should
have stated on the ticket that it would be an offence if he failed to
pay the Penalty Charge Notice.
However, when the case was heard at the National Parking Adjudication
Service, it became apparent that the council was endorsing an invalid
Traffic Regulation Order as parking offences had been decriminalised in
2002.
Mr Isaacson also won an appeal on behalf of his client Mr David Silver,
who had received a ticket for not displaying his disabled badge correctly.
The adjudicator also rejected the council's application for review in Mr
Silver's case for the same reasons and warned that the council should
not have issued a ticket for failure to display.
Review adjudicator Stephen Knapp said: "It seems to me that the
adjudicator is correct in his view that the council has made no effort
to review or individually amend its TROs despite the fact that a simple
mechanism is provided for this purpose. Given this simple procedure, it
is difficult to understand why the council could not make the necessary
modifications."
Why You Should Not Buy A Used Motorcycle Helmet
Why You Should Not Buy A Used Motorcycle Helmet
by: Low Jeremy
A motorcycle helmet is one of those essentials that will help save your life should you have an accident while riding your bike. This will protect your head from a damaging and even potentially fatal head injury. Motorcycle helmets are so important that state lawmakers have even included a directive in the state laws that orders all people riding the motorcycle to wear helmets.
Some people though do not understand the importance of this accessory. In fact, some people do not even like wearing it because it is too heavy and too suffocating. Others find it a killjoy to not be able to feel the wind on their faces when riding a motorbike.
Motorcycle helmets are not really that expensive but they are also not cheap. Some who are not that well-informed will probably save all their money for the motorcycle leaving a really small budget for safety gears like the helmet. Some even buy used helmets instead of new ones. This, however, is one practice that should not be encouraged.
Using used helmets is extremely dangerous and impractical. Used helmets are actually worthless and what is more you cannot really tell whether they are damaged or not. You won’t even be able to tell if they are relatively new ones or not. This is because the helmet is made from a hard outer shell that envelops a layer of expanded polystyrene. You will never be able to tell if the expanded polystyrene is already compressed or not unless you cut the outer shell. An already compressed polystyrene layer will not protect you from an accident.
Another thing that you should consider is the fact that polystyrene becomes brittle as it ages. This is the reason why old helmets should be exchanged for new ones in a couple of years as it may not be able to absorb much of the impact when an accident does happen. The polystyrene layer is also easily damaged by the sun and by chemicals such as gas vapors.
Motor bikers who always place their helmet near the gas tank will also unknowingly damage the lining of the helmet. It is also not a good idea to always let the helmet sit under the heat of the sun. If you can, try to park your motorbike in areas that are shaded. Pointed objects may also compromise the lifespan of the helmet by piercing through the polystyrene layer inside.
About The Author
This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on Motorcycle Helmets & other useful information, please visit http://motorcycle-helmet.articlekeep.com.
Some people though do not understand the importance of this accessory. In fact, some people do not even like wearing it because it is too heavy and too suffocating. Others find it a killjoy to not be able to feel the wind on their faces when riding a motorbike.
Motorcycle helmets are not really that expensive but they are also not cheap. Some who are not that well-informed will probably save all their money for the motorcycle leaving a really small budget for safety gears like the helmet. Some even buy used helmets instead of new ones. This, however, is one practice that should not be encouraged.
Using used helmets is extremely dangerous and impractical. Used helmets are actually worthless and what is more you cannot really tell whether they are damaged or not. You won’t even be able to tell if they are relatively new ones or not. This is because the helmet is made from a hard outer shell that envelops a layer of expanded polystyrene. You will never be able to tell if the expanded polystyrene is already compressed or not unless you cut the outer shell. An already compressed polystyrene layer will not protect you from an accident.
Another thing that you should consider is the fact that polystyrene becomes brittle as it ages. This is the reason why old helmets should be exchanged for new ones in a couple of years as it may not be able to absorb much of the impact when an accident does happen. The polystyrene layer is also easily damaged by the sun and by chemicals such as gas vapors.
Motor bikers who always place their helmet near the gas tank will also unknowingly damage the lining of the helmet. It is also not a good idea to always let the helmet sit under the heat of the sun. If you can, try to park your motorbike in areas that are shaded. Pointed objects may also compromise the lifespan of the helmet by piercing through the polystyrene layer inside.
About The Author
This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on Motorcycle Helmets & other useful information, please visit http://motorcycle-helmet.articlekeep.com.
DRIVING IN SPAIN - USEFUL INFORMATION
Driving Licence
Any driving licence issued in the EU is valid in any EU country. Driving licences issued in
Under the age of 45, driving licences are valid for 10 years, between the ages of 45 and 70 licences are valid for 5 years. Over the age of 70 you will have to renew your licence every year.
Driving tests are taken on a machine, rather like a computer rally game, and involves anwering questions about the Highway Code.
Which side do the Spanish drive on?
The first point to remember is that the Spanish drive on the right hand side. If you take your own right hand drive car to
Petrol
Gasolina fuel is available in four grades: Super Plus (98 octane), Super (96 octane) and often sin plomo unleaded, Mezcla or
What do I need to carry with me when driving?
A new road safety law came in force in 2004: all drivers must now have at least one luminous jacket available in any vehicle whilst on the road. The law states that this jacket must be worn if you breakdown on any highway.
The jackets are relatively cheap and available at many supermarkets and car shops.
In
General rules
Yellow Lines mean "No parking". Many people ignore this. Cars can be clamped for being on yellow lines. Unknown costs to retrieve.
Blue Lines mean "Find a meter" and pay for the time you require. Meters are situated at the side of the road or against buildings. The authorities rarely chase people who fail to pay but when you come to sell your property all such tickets are registered against the property as a debt, plus interest.
Cars may also be towed if found parking without a valid ticket.
If you do find a parking fine stuck under your windscreen wiper you will find a form and a small envelope attached, you have the option to fill in the form, pay the amount it asks for into one of the parking ticket machines.
Firstly press the Red button, pay in the money then press the Blue button. The machine will print out a receipt.
Detach the small receipt portion at the bottom, then place the other portion and the form into the envelope and post in the slot at the bottom of the machine.
Retain your proof of payment or it can be more expensive later.
Many supermarkets have their own free car park but in some you have to collect a ficha (disk) for raising the exit gate when paying for shopping.
Halt signs in
Well, there you have it: by following some simple guidelines for driving, your time in
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About the Author
Grace Turner is a Director of
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