The place .... a quiet backwater abandoned industrial estate in Ladywood. The time ... a dark evening in August when all remaining rememants of this abandoned industrial estate has disappeared to leave the tumbleweed blowing through this quiet turn off.
The problem? Well the problem is this setting is playing host to Birmingham Opera Companies groundbreaking production of Idomeneo and people arriving by car have been parking on double yellows along this quiet turnoff and getting ticketed by the 10's.
Now a double yellow is a double yellow and people should not park there and expect a ticket if they do but how did they decide to come down there between 7.30pm and 9.30 on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Monday, Wednesday and no doubt tonight and tomorrow? Was it just luck they happened to be wandering around an abandoned industrial estate - or has someone made a decision to come down hard on these law breaking arts attenders as part of revenue reaping strategy! I happened to think this is an extremely poor demonstration of taking advantage of a positive community gathering to profit the traffic coffers...
Birmingham Opera Company have made every effort to inform attendees of parking restrictions, to park responsibly and have laid on a bus from Town Hall twice a night to aid this issue but still.... poor show by the traffic wardens.
What I hear you say? Opera goers .... they can afford it ... tut .... tut - Well I beg to differ. A large proportiion of Birmingham Opera Company attenders are from C2DE social economic groupings or first time arts attenders through the innovative approach they take to marketing and community participation - so no, this is not going to encourage these people to return - their euphoria after a thrilling first time arts attendance is going to turn to misery of a £60 parking ticket, ruining the night, the experience and their bank balance.
The double yellows operated in parts of that area may well be appropriate in the day but some are appear not to be so essentialin the evening and in the current climate of credit crunch I happen to think this is a little bit of mean targeting ...
.... be warned if you are coming tonight or tomorrow don't park on the double yellows - in fact it would make quite a performance for no one to do it and for us all to watch them check the cars ... maybe next time.
The problem? Well the problem is this setting is playing host to Birmingham Opera Companies groundbreaking production of Idomeneo and people arriving by car have been parking on double yellows along this quiet turnoff and getting ticketed by the 10's.
Now a double yellow is a double yellow and people should not park there and expect a ticket if they do but how did they decide to come down there between 7.30pm and 9.30 on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Monday, Wednesday and no doubt tonight and tomorrow? Was it just luck they happened to be wandering around an abandoned industrial estate - or has someone made a decision to come down hard on these law breaking arts attenders as part of revenue reaping strategy! I happened to think this is an extremely poor demonstration of taking advantage of a positive community gathering to profit the traffic coffers...
Birmingham Opera Company have made every effort to inform attendees of parking restrictions, to park responsibly and have laid on a bus from Town Hall twice a night to aid this issue but still.... poor show by the traffic wardens.
What I hear you say? Opera goers .... they can afford it ... tut .... tut - Well I beg to differ. A large proportiion of Birmingham Opera Company attenders are from C2DE social economic groupings or first time arts attenders through the innovative approach they take to marketing and community participation - so no, this is not going to encourage these people to return - their euphoria after a thrilling first time arts attendance is going to turn to misery of a £60 parking ticket, ruining the night, the experience and their bank balance.
The double yellows operated in parts of that area may well be appropriate in the day but some are appear not to be so essentialin the evening and in the current climate of credit crunch I happen to think this is a little bit of mean targeting ...
.... be warned if you are coming tonight or tomorrow don't park on the double yellows - in fact it would make quite a performance for no one to do it and for us all to watch them check the cars ... maybe next time.
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Cheers
JP