Crap Parking – Princesshay

Exeter is a city with crap parking.

Although there are parking options the combination of  actually getting into the city centre by the few inadequate access roads and the prospect of finding a space in a grim expensive car park leads to the conclusion that Exeter has crap parking

Step forward Princesshay Car Park

The new (2008) Princesshay development promised a city centre shopping experience with ample parking for staff and shoppers – armpit parking more like.  Not only are the charges the highest of any Exeter parking but the approach route is so badly planned that there are daily “incidents” where frustrated drivers find themselves at the mercy of a chap in a high visibility (he’s important) jacket who control the comings and goings of the Princesshay car park.

See the video of Exeter’s state of the art Princesshay car park in action.

Notice the lightning fast calculation of the attendant when making a decision to allow another lucky motorist into the Princesshay car park.

What was it again my lover….one out…….one in….yeah I get it, much like the hokey cokey.

Having analysed the ever changing flow of cars in and out of the Princesshay multi-storey car park he springs into action and with the wonders of modern technology lifts up the plastic cone, steps aside and voila another car has been given the opportunity to rise up into the heavenly parking levels and prepare to work out how to fund the extortionate hourly parking charges.

On further investigation the designers did include entrance ticket barriers which should control the car park capacity incredulously it was overlooked that a line of cars ten long would back up the spiral ramp as the barriers are well away from the actual entrance.

More crap parking – Exeter Central Station

The opportunity has to be taken on this post to feature another crap parking area in Exeter – Exeter Central station.  The rails operaters Network Rail have the forecourt of this city centre station constantly patrolled by a private security firm – Sapphire Security – who wait for ususpecting drivers to pull in fully expecting usual railway 20 minutes free parking.

Rather than pay an attendant to point out the signs that explain it is a pay and display and generate a fair revenue Sapphire are stright over the minute you’re out of sight applying a full wheel clamp which requires €100 removal fee.  Dirty trick we said. Crap parking they replied.