Car clamping at Fradley?

BRITISH Waterways have now contracted-out the management of car parking at Fradley Junction, that boaters fear will greatly increase charges and include clamping.

 

There are some significant changes taking place at the British Waterways car park at Fradley Junction—the management of this car park has recently been contracted to a company called APCOA, writes Chris Wells.

Mixed messages

Quite why British Waterways has elected to do this in the circumstances is not entirely clear. I am certainly getting mixed messages from British Waterways, and I am concerned that (a) this is probably another example whereby British Waterways is still not spending its (our) money as wisely as it could be, (b) car parking charges at Fradley Junction will escalate and (c) some boaters are going to lose out.

British Waterways has been banging on lately about the benefits and economies, etc. derived from the use of a greater number of waterways volunteers. Hereabouts we have a group of volunteers called the ‘Friends of Fradley'.

Operating costs

So, surely it would make more sense to utilise these volunteers for managing the up to now virtually un-managed Fradley car park, rather than contract with a car park management company with its incumbent operating costs and profitability agenda, etc.? It can't be that difficult can it? I certainly like the idea of virtually all of the money raised from the car park ticketing at Fradley Junction going to British Waterways!

The car parking charge at present at Fradley Junction is £1.00 for up to four hours and £1.50 for the whole day—pretty reasonable for waterways visitors to pay for parking their car in this day and age don't you think? How long before these charges increase significantly so as to make the management of this car park profitable enough for the management company?

Denied free car parking

Local long-term moorers have been issued parking permits because car parking features in their mooring agreements with British Waterways. However, a more subtle change concerns some of those boaters just passing through, i.e. they will probably now be denied free of charge car parking in the small ‘boaters only' car parking area.

They will still be able to park their cars (assuming the car park is not totally crammed with waterways visitors that is) but they too will now have to pay the going rate. It is not clear what will be done to facilitate car parking for those local boaters that turn up in their cars just to unload their boater's 'briefcase' at the Elsan and/or drop rubbish off and/or make use of the toilet and shower block.

One further thought—is there a change of British Waterways car parking management heading your way?

Chris Wells, Nb Belle