IS THIS THE BEST EXCUSE FOR A RIP-OFF YOU'VE EVER HEARD?

29-09-2006

The Stirrer has just read what's possibly the best excuse yet for a rip-off…and it's come from the press office of Birmingham Council.

Their latest release explains that parking charges in the city are currently out for consultation, and it's proposed that most charges will remain the same.

One difference though, is the recommendation that evening parking should rise from £2 to £2.50.

Is this because the council want to make a mint at your expense? Or because they want to ruthlessly exploit their monopoly on street-parking by hiking prices 25%?

Heaven forbid, it's merely because they want to “rationalise and help simplify the charges by levying the same charge for off peak parking in the evenings and on Sundays”.

Obviously the council thinks its citizens are too thick to understand that parking at different times costs different amounts.

So how about this for a suggestion. Why not “rationalise” and “simplify” by reducing charges on a Sunday so they are the same asevening prices ie two quid.