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I recently wrote an e mail to my local City Mayor, in effect commenting / complaining about his vehicle being left completely straddling a private footpath on the approach to a local community centre.
I understand it was on private ground, my gripe was that either the Mayor or his driver neglected to find a parking place in a way that everyone else that uses the site has to do. In my opinion he felt that because of his position he was able to circumvent local parking protocols.
Today I got an email not from the Mayor to whom I addressed my complaint / comment but from the local Councillor on whose patch the Community Centre is based.
The received mail, though not abusive was bullying, threatening and intimidating.
Perhaps I didn't expect an apology from the Mayor, he may have had a different opinion to me and I was quite happy to hear it. What I didn't expect was a tirade from another Councillor accusing me of being amongst other things 'churlish and disproportionate'.
This email from this unknown Councillor has got me pretty wound up in that I didn't write to him in the first place and the tone is aggressive.
Who if anyone can I or should I complain to or should I just put it down to petty local politics.
Press?
Someone must hate them
That horse bolted when you wrote the first letter. Someone complaining about the mayor parking sideways on a piece of wasteland does not get to put themselves above petty local politics - you've voluntarily waded hip deep into it.Who if anyone can I or should I complain to or should I just put it down to petty local politics.
So with that said, you're surely not giving up at the first bit of pushback from a petty functionary? Fire off letter number two, show em who's in charge on this fundamental issue and threaten to escalate matters.
Print a copy of the email.
Do what the hell you want, within reason, and wave said letter under the nose of whichever council representative challenges you.
Do you know who I am?
'churlish and disproportionate'
You're just coming up against standard motorist entitlement.
I'm not sure what you can do, other than take a photo if it happens again and send it to the local paper.
Surely you can post the letter on here? We wont tell anyone.
There will almost certainly be a 'community activist'/blogger operating in your area. Find them, they'll have an audience.
Agree with Al about the local rag, they will lap this up (unless they are friends in high places)
How about the party? What persuasion is the caller? Majority/minority?
Failing all that, find the local 'spotted in xxxx' page on fb and get it out there. You could lobby the next public meeting, but it depends how protected these people are. Mayors are largely ceremonial, so ignore that prick.
There should be a procedure to follow to make a complaint, have a look on the council website. I think the first action is to complain to the council, then appeal when they reject it.
Twitter.
Exeter? Mayor here keeps getting busted for parking like a gizzard, it's in the local paper every week
"Mayor abandons car in disabled space to buy Fish and Chips"
"Mayor of Exeter in parking shocker"
"Uppity Mayor hoofs parking warden in slats"
Or similar
Formal complaint to the council - you now have two different complaints to make - the parking and the reply you got. There will be a complaints procedure and time-scales to follow which will be on the website. copy in leader of other parties groups in all correspondence
Nothing satisfactory from them - then its local paper time - they do love a local council story
good luck - I am now in my 13th year of fighting with the council over a much larger issue. they know I am in the right but have attempted to shut me up with spurious legal action.
don't they know who I am?! 😉
Post up a pic of the Mayors car, your full email and the full response from the councillor. Without all of that how can anyone come to any sort of opinion.
To tell you the truth I'm finding it hard to imagine someone writing to anyone about how their car was parked on private ground. So I'm tending to lean to the councillors way of thinking.
Yes complain about the councillor - and call your local rag once you've done that. If he's that much of a dick they've probably got it in for him anyway.
Be sure to share a pic of the clipping with us too BTW.
Who owns the land?
The offending car, parked on the approach to a centre on the centres land.
I understand it wasn't parked illegally. I never suggested it was. My thought is that it is inconsiderate considering everyone else has to find a proper place.
[url= https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5605/31489056551_ab8f194076_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5605/31489056551_ab8f194076_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/PYzDs8 ]IMG_0341[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/yosemitepaul/ ]Paul Whitehead[/url], on Flickr
You said it was blocking a footpath...?
Go on, post up your email and the reply (redacted if necessary)...
Not sure I'd be going for the full hung, drawn and quartered over the evidence presented above. I'm guessing a child's face is under there somewhere.
Nice paving though, very tidy.
I woulod be very unhappy about the mayor abusing his position like that - that paving will not have the needed strength to stand up to cars parking on it more than likely ans where one goes others follow
Given that the car is not causing an obstruction, I probably wouldn't bother pursuing it any further. You've made your point.
Following it up would lead some (including me!) to think "haven't they got anything better to do?" 😀
Forget about the parking, councillors shouldn't harass members of the public out of the blue - even if they are making daft complaints.
See if the council has a code of conduct for elected members
Complain about the response, councils usually have a pretty robust procedure for councilor complaints. You'll find it online.
What are you complaining about its even up a dropped curb and blocking nothing or anyone. Was the mayor by chance a guest at the center?
Your mayor has a Mercedes still? Stirling is on second hand Skoda (I kid not).
Given this,
I recently wrote an e mail to my local City Mayor, in effect commenting / complaining about his vehicle being left [b]completely straddling[/b] a private footpath on the approach to a local community centre.
and this,
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[/img]I'm starting to struggle with this.
The received mail, though not abusive [b]was bullying, threatening and intimidating.[/b]
😕
My thought is that it is inconsiderate considering everyone else has to find a proper place.
Apart from the only other car in the picture obviously.
that paving will not have the needed strength to stand up to cars parking on it
The drop kerb says different.
drop kerb is for access to the cycle rack is it not?
Pavement parkering are something I hate.
good luck if you do, in my own experience the second you stir the pot they all club together and you have not got a chance.
Or access for deliveries to tne comunity center.
drop kerb is for access to the cycle rack is it not?
Who knows?
One thing I do know though, there isn't any way you can tell the load rating of a paved area from looking at a photograph of it.
Pavement parkering are something I hate.
In all fairness you have problems with cars legitimatey parking on the road because the space can be used for something else, or some other such nonsense! 😛
storm in a teacup time...
Not quite my argument captain. I'd just like them to pay for the public land they use. Different topic tho
As a warning to the OP - complaining about the council is like swimming in treacle. Only do it if you can remain detached and laugh about it. If you get wound up then don't do it.
Not quite my argument captain. I'd just like them to pay for the public land they use. Different topic tho
😆 😆 😆 😯 😆 😆 😆
As you say, a different thread for that one. 😆
Complaining that they haven't parked illegally is essentially inciting them to park illegally, and I've got no time for people who park illegally, so I think the OP is well out of order.
++++ to use the local press; minor 'functionaries' and their minions seem to be capable of assuming massive importance.
As always when it involves local authorities, i refer you to private eye rotten boroughs.
The black merc is parked slightly inconsiderately. The vehicle is not "completely straddling a private footpath" because there is still 2m+ space for people to pass, although it is pushing them into the dropped kerb a bit.
The dropped kerb might well be intended to be a vehicle crossover and the block paving is probably constructed to withstand parked vehicles. There is what looks like quite a sizeable area of hard-standing in the picture in front of the car so I wonder if this is supposed to be a car park and why the vehicle was not parked there where it would not be getting in the way.
in what way?the tone is aggressive
He's an unpaid volunteer, attending an event for the benefit of others. He'd rather be at home in front of the TV or out on his bike so he should be cut a fair bit of slack. It's already hard to find people prepared to do these local government roles, if everyone whines about them it'll get even harder.
Perhaps you could volunteer to do it for a year or two to help out?
Post up the message, go on...
Unpaid volunteer? councillors are paid round here and then make a fortune on expenses and bribes
Unpaid volunteer? councillors are paid round here and then make a fortune on expenses and bribes
Correct. 16k a year in East Dunbartonshire. For those without extra responsibility. For a job taking so much time that my councilor for many years did it while working full time as a teacher.
And we are told they (teachers) work 60 hours per week.
All that said I wouldn't touch their job with a barge pole. I attended one community council meeting once. Never again.
Spend your evenings at meetings and have people complain about your legally parked car .....
circumvent local parking protocols
Gaawwd bless yer poppet, gawd bless
Ours parked in the short stay at the front of the station with his permit before bunking off to Manchester Airport and off on his hols.
I often wondered who were the sort of people who could be bothered to write a complaining letter to someone who hasn't in any way, shape or form, disrupted their life. Now I know one!
Just key the bloody thing. That'll learn em.
Is this just based on jealousy, and deep felt bitterness because of your own failings/lack of success, because someones holds a position of 'power/status'? I might understand it a bit if the parking was causing some sort of nuisance, but I don't really see how it warrants any more than a slight shrug of the shoulders.
As for the Councillor, isn't he basically saying 'I'm sick of dealing with this petty shit, don't you have anything better to do?'. ...And he has a very valid point.
I think angeldust has got it spot on.
yeah sorry.... I have to agree with the previous two posters
You think you have to be [i]jealous[/i] to find issue with someone abusing their position of power? I know this is a minor case, but I don't reckon jealousy comes into it.
[i] because of your own failings/lack of success, because someones holds a position of 'power/status'?[/i] is someone judging by their own standards imo.
A councillor sick of dealing with petty shit? A contradiction in terms, that's the essence of his role - If he can't politely field a pointless enquiry from a concerned citizen then he shouldn't be a councillor.As for the Councillor, isn't he basically saying 'I'm sick of dealing with this petty shit, don't you have anything better to do?'. ...And he has a very valid point.
Local councils must get fatuous complaints like this every day - responding in a hostile, derogatory manner is pitiful, when anyone competent could dash off a placatory response in abar 2 mins.
[u]tjagain[/u] - [u]Member[/u]...they .. have attempted to shut me up..
don't they know who I am?!
That made me chuckle - the answer is clearly "No, no they dont."
You know what you have to do.....
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Ta edlong - I thought that had been wasted!
To those who see this as petty - in some ways it is. However its also symbolic of a disdain for ordinary people and a sense of entitlement which is why its the sort of thing I would challenge
you complained, you didn't get the answer you were expecting.
you could complain about the answer to your complaint, or you could do something else and get on with your life, only you can decide really.
FWIW, I think responding to a complaint in the sort of offhand manner that the councillor has responded to you, misses the opportunity that the original complaint presents, but I'm not sure pursuing it any further is going to make it better for you, sorry.
.You think you have to be jealous to find issue with someone abusing their position of power? I know this is a minor case, but I don't reckon jealousy comes into it
The point being is this an abuse of power? It appears to be so minor that it has more to do with the OP's hangups than the incident itself.
because of your own failings/lack of success, because someones holds a position of 'power/status'? is someone judging by their own standards imo.
Well, evidently not in this case, as I clearly couldn't care less about this vulgar display of power :roll:. Interested to know what the OP's motivation is, because I don't understand the fuss at all.
However its also symbolic of a disdain for ordinary people
errrr.... they [i]are[/i] ordinary people..
there's a similar pedestrianised area right across the road from our flats.. A builder parked his van there for an hour or so the other day
no-one complained
tjagain - MemberTo those who see this as petty - in some ways it is. However its also symbolic of a disdain for ordinary people and a sense of entitlement which is why its the sort of thing I would challenge
[b]SHUT UP!!! BLOODY PEASANT!!! I ORDER YOU TO BE QUIET!!!![/b] Don't make me come over there any demonstrate the violence inherent in the system....
To those who see this as petty - in some ways it is. However its also symbolic of a disdain for ordinary people and a sense of entitlement which is why its the sort of thing I would challenge
Wow !!! keep on fighting the man tj.
To those who see this as petty - in some ways it is. However its also symbolic of a disdain for ordinary people and a sense of entitlement which is why its the sort of thing I would challenge
By 'symbolic of' do you mean 'a possible, but completely unconfirmed case' of someone having a sense of entitlement/disdain for 'ordinary people'. Looks to me like it's a bit more 'symbolic' of a chip on the shoulder of the person complaining.
In Surrey parking on the pavement is seen as considerate behaviour. It leaves the roads clear for cars, who pay road tax, to make progress. If you can park on grass verges, so much the better, as this is waste ground.
Maybe he was demonstrating his support for the EU by adopting the french approach to parking? Show some solidarity! Or are you one of those bloody Kippers? Eh? Are you?!
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So - where is this "abusive" reply?
you could complain about the answer to your complaint, or you could do something else and get on with your life, only you can decide really.
He's either doing that or complaining to the mods about this thread. 😀
[i]my gripe was that either the Mayor or his driver neglected to find a parking place in a way that everyone else that uses the site has to do. In my opinion he felt that because of his position he was able to circumvent local parking protocols[/i]
It appears to be so minor that it has more to do with the OP's hangups than the incident itself.
Repeat it enough times and we'll all believe you're right too. Glad you know the OP's mind better than he does. Still can't see where jealousy comes into it.
[i]He's either doing that or complaining to the mods about this thread[/i]
Of course, being jealous of the power mods hold of the forum he'll go straight to the publishers 😆
Repeat it enough times and we'll all believe you're right too
Sorry this is nonsense, no idea what you are getting at. I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything.
OP, if you find being described as "churlish and disproportionate" as bullying, I think you need a thicker skin, especially as he is probably right.
I think its time to avenge the council taxpayers of wherever it is you're from. That bastard had it coming, and no mistake guv!
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Oi Binner - thats your car right now after calling me a peasant! I'm descended from norman nobility I'll have you know
Norman nobility?
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😀
Just wait until he does it again & then park legally directly behind his car, so they can't access the dropped kerb & can't get off the pavement without having to drive along a bit & down a normal height kerb.
That or get some mates to drive there with you and park the whole way along the kerbside so there's no room to get the car off......
*adds Binners name to list*
Just to continue, what is not shown on the snap which others who know the site are aware of, is to the right of the photograph and not seen is a large car park. The dropped kerb is not for vehicular access but to allow disabled to move from the car park onto the pavement.
No, the pavement is not completely blocked. Anyone could walk around the vehicle. What upset me and many other users of the site was that the driver of the vehicle ignored all the local parking arrangements by which those with children and the disabled are required to use. Instead the driver thought he was able to park where others don't.
The precedent has been set, and others will now avail themselves of the pavement parking idea.
Anyway, a truce has been negotiated and for the moment both sides are winding their necks in. Thanks for the advice.
gonna post up the reply please?