TRAFFIC: Worshippers petition for extra free parking
Peterborough today
PARISHIONERS at a city church have made a desperate bid for 30 minutes extra free parking for people attending Sunday services.
The congregation of St Peter and All Souls Roman Catholic Church have drawn up an 850-strong petition which they plan to submit to Peterborough City Council.Currently, people attending the 10.30am mass at the church on Sundays, can park for free along surrounding streets until 11am. But Sunday services, on occasion, do not end until 11.30am or a little later. Parish Priest Father David Jennings said: "We're hoping that the city council will be generous of spirit and afford us an extra 30 minutes. "It would make such a great difference for us. At the moment, if mass runs 10 or 15 minutes over we're faced with a situation where people need to dash out to put money in the metres to avoid getting a ticket."People have worshipped here for more than 100 years and we'd really like a little leeway. The city council is reviewing parking measures in the city centre at the moment and we'd like them to take it on board and, if possible, allow us the opportunity to have our say about parking in the streets around the church – Geneva Street, Park Road and Fitzwilliam Street."The city council is already very generous to religious groups across the city. We want them to continue this positive action and reflect the generosity with St Peter's as well."Worshippers at the Gladstone Street mosque, for example, are allowed to park in two bus bays in the Acland overflow bus park on Friday afternoons. An informal and a 21-day formal consultation on parking enforcement in the city centre area concluded on Monday. Peterborough City Council spokesman Mike Lennox urged parishioners to submit their comments as soon as possible so they can be included in a report.He added: "The city council has already made parking concessions in this area, delaying the start of the on-street payment period and permitting parishioners to buy two tickets at one time to cover the duration of services. "Free parking is, of course, available in the Queensgate centre car parks, if drivers wish to drop passengers at church before parking."The concession allowing worshippers at the Gladstone Street mosque has been made because – unlike the Park Road/Geneva Street area – there is no on-street parking near the mosque."The petition will be presented to the councillors at a full council meeting on June 21.
08 June 2006
PARISHIONERS at a city church have made a desperate bid for 30 minutes extra free parking for people attending Sunday services.
The congregation of St Peter and All Souls Roman Catholic Church have drawn up an 850-strong petition which they plan to submit to Peterborough City Council.Currently, people attending the 10.30am mass at the church on Sundays, can park for free along surrounding streets until 11am. But Sunday services, on occasion, do not end until 11.30am or a little later. Parish Priest Father David Jennings said: "We're hoping that the city council will be generous of spirit and afford us an extra 30 minutes. "It would make such a great difference for us. At the moment, if mass runs 10 or 15 minutes over we're faced with a situation where people need to dash out to put money in the metres to avoid getting a ticket."People have worshipped here for more than 100 years and we'd really like a little leeway. The city council is reviewing parking measures in the city centre at the moment and we'd like them to take it on board and, if possible, allow us the opportunity to have our say about parking in the streets around the church – Geneva Street, Park Road and Fitzwilliam Street."The city council is already very generous to religious groups across the city. We want them to continue this positive action and reflect the generosity with St Peter's as well."Worshippers at the Gladstone Street mosque, for example, are allowed to park in two bus bays in the Acland overflow bus park on Friday afternoons. An informal and a 21-day formal consultation on parking enforcement in the city centre area concluded on Monday. Peterborough City Council spokesman Mike Lennox urged parishioners to submit their comments as soon as possible so they can be included in a report.He added: "The city council has already made parking concessions in this area, delaying the start of the on-street payment period and permitting parishioners to buy two tickets at one time to cover the duration of services. "Free parking is, of course, available in the Queensgate centre car parks, if drivers wish to drop passengers at church before parking."The concession allowing worshippers at the Gladstone Street mosque has been made because – unlike the Park Road/Geneva Street area – there is no on-street parking near the mosque."The petition will be presented to the councillors at a full council meeting on June 21.
08 June 2006
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