Babooshka

The problem of our ' youth' lies with the parents. There are very high chances that this vandal, like the majority of others, will have been brought up in a household where there was a complete lack of respect or value of both people and possessions. He was probably treated badly by his parents, and has grown up with a lack of self-worth and self-esteem. This also brings with it, envy. He probably went without...and when I say 'without', I don't refer merely to material things...I mean love. He has probably grown up envious of what other people have, or what other people CAN have as a result of their formative years. Your car was his projection of all the things he needed as a child but never got -and his smashing up of it is his anger of that fact. This issue, and issues like this, need addressing at parental level. This youth, will have been the little boy you would have felt sorry for on the street, whose parent's showed him nothing but disdain and disrespect. This is how they turn out. No excuse - but it's the reason.

Maybe you would like to show your staunch support for the council's initiatives, and CHOOSE to park in the Pay & Display.

I assure you, Planner1, there used to be some meters in Sheffield which gave change.

And, also, how often is 'sometimes?' Once a week? once and month? once a year? One of my closest pals visits Millhouses Park almost every week day. He can't walk cos he takes his toddler with him, and it's a good couple of miles away from his house. These are the people who it is affecting.

Council ought to employ Polomint. S/he has found out more in five minutes than the council could have found out in years.

Funny old thing. The 'council' told you these meters don't exist. Whether there are few or many, they do exist.

I think you mean '...effect them'. We 'effect' change, not affect it. Just out of curiousity, Planner1, do you have kids, and do you go to Millhouses Park?

Maybe the council does listen to the electorate, ie the ones who voted them in. Maybe the people who voted in this council DO think these charges are fair. Perhaps, as I did not cast my vote for this council, that is why they are not interested. Maybe WE are the non-electorate. And yes, Shef Fitness, as a single parent, that twenty quid I spend in those damn machines could feed me and my child, or anyone and their child for that matter, for a few days. Money much better spent, in my opinion.

PS If you don't work for the council, you should. You would fit in well.

Planner1. I know that some have gone over by 1 minute because I am nosey. I KNOW the people to whom this has happened. They are fellow parents. I also see, and hear, incredible numbers of rows between inspectors and drivers. My opinions on parking are not a reflection of how much I do or don't get out. They are based upon my principles, my ethical and moral values. The parking is the same price further away. There are not many easy-to-find free-parking zones in Broomhill to be fair. And, for me, yes paying £20 a month in pure parking for school drop-offs is a lot of money. For you to say that it is not, and that I need to get out more, shows complete ignorance of people's personal situations. Whether the machines have ever given change or not is irrelevant. They should. Some machines used to give change, and that is fact!

It's a reflection of society. People want something for nothing. Of course, though, there are always exceptions. People who genuinely can not afford to pay for basic items of which they have need. I guess this is as good a place as any to ask. The askee can always ignore or refuse. Maybe it should be under a separate heading. 'Wanted for Free' section. That way, it would be easier to filter out.

That makes it all right, then? It is not just in permit zones either. The Parkers Road car park was subject to this 100% increase too. This crucifies parents who drop off their kids at school, of which I am one. I wrote to the council about this, and was told to drop my son at the gate. My son is six. The fifteen minutes free parking is not ample time to see my son to school and ensure that he is settled, before returning to my car, therefore, I have to cough up. I walk most mornings, but in the afternoon, the hill back up to where I live is too much for my little one, after a day at school. I see a warden there slapping on the fines practically every morning cos a parent has gone over their free parking by a minute. It's not even peak time! The car park is practically empty apart from a few parents, yet there they are policing that car park cos we parents are easy prey. 80p a day for a two twenty minute stays (I drive in inclement conditions) adds up to a hell of a lot for parking in my opinion. The council know that this is easy money to make. I wouldn't mind so much if I could pay for just half an hour at 20p, but it is an hour minimum charge. It's a swindle. It infuriates me. Oh, and what is even more annoying now, is that suddenly these machines have stopped taking the 'new' 5p and 10p coins. WTF? Can we use the old ones? I still have some lying around. Oh, and they don't give change either, or should I say, they are happy to 'accept overpayment'. Well I never!!!!! You don't say. So, basically, it just accepts 20p pieces, or 50p pieces. It's a Goddamn con.

Why, of course!!! They put the Broomhill one's up by 100% last year. Where ya going next Planner1. Crosspool, Crookes, Fuwood, Lodge Moor? You could put one on Lydgate Lane. There is a park AND a school. Think of the dosh you could make there!

Depends how you raise the money. Penalising families on a trip to the park is unethical in my opinion. You can't get a much more family-oriented day out. Fresh air, quality fun family time. Something that, until now, was considered a free alternative for all those people who just want to 'be'. Oh, yes, let's collar them with a charge and ruin their day. Lovely! And, you look on any parking-related website, and all you find are things written about the danger of children around parked cars on the street. Moving cars unable to see them. Well, SCC are doing a damn good job at making people stay at home. Well done! I'm boycotting Millhouses Park henceforth. Shame. All that money spent on doing it up, and making it nice. Do they charge for park car parks in the north of Sheffield, Planner1? Or do the Labour Councillors live up there?

It's just another one of their 'make the rich pay! make the rich pay' schemes. Bet you don't have to pay for park car parking in less affluent areas. Wish we had a different council for each postcode. Now that WOULD be interesting.

I would be interested to learn how this went. Everyone seemed to be taking home most of what they had brought.

Oh Streetfarce, you make me chuckle. But seriously, don't worry. I am sure SCC will make things fair for everyone.................................by introducing pay and display for the street parking, too!!!!

Rita and I had the 'talk' yesterday. She just looked at me. So, I put down a whole sachet of food before I went to bed, and a load of biscuits. The food was gone in less than five mins. Biscuits still there. I said 'good night' after we had had a cuddle on the settee for about an hour, and then I barricaded my bedroom door. I heard her at 4.30am (improvement!) but ignored her. The minute I opened the door at 7am this morning she darted in to my bedroom before I had even finished opening the door. She must have been out there all night. We went downstairs. She had not touched the biscuits. However, she immediately started to eat them. She doesn't like to dine alone. I have now got a plan in place, and will stick to it rigidly. She is giving me the cold shoulder a little today, as she has now gone under the bed for the day (like she did when she first arrived). I'm sure she will forgive me eventually!

I guess they will need to implement more parking charges to cover the £20k damage to the parking meters. I can think of hundreds of ways the council can save money, and it is NOT through the extortion from the general park-visiting public.

Today's children, who are unloved, and neglected, mistreated, ....you know, the ones we all desperately want to help.... well, that will probably have been your criminal's childhood.

My best bud is a criminal lawyer. Comes highly recommended. She is based at a firm in Chesterfield now though. Not too far, though.

Or maybe people could help to reduce the problem of over population, and subsequent poverty, by not have so many kids in the first place. Why is it always everyone else's problem EXCEPT the families with multiple children? You should contact that Tony Robinson guy. I am sure he would put his oar in.

Is it a two hour max car park machine? If so, so much for spending an afternoon at the park with the kids. My park allegiance will now be switched to more family-friendly locations. No way am I going to haul all the way over there again, just so I can pay another car park fee, and then clock watch all afternoon. Another example of SCC at its' finest.

Go round the pubs tonight. I bet you will get your signatures!

I will defo be commenting on the planning app!