Worshippers' fury over parking tickets

10:30am Monday 12th January 2009 in News Photograph of the Author By Sarah Hilley

Mansoor Khan, Mohammed Akhtar, Azim Khan and Fazal Hussain Mansoor Khan, Mohammed Akhtar, Azim Khan and Fazal Hussain

MUSLIMS are appealing for traffic wardens to spare them parking tickets while they pray for an hour on Fridays.

Members of the mosques in Manchester Road and Broad Street want Swindon Council to turn a blind eye to worshippers who park in residents’ spaces.

In the past, there was an unwritten rule that wardens largely ignored illegally parked cars during their sermons.

But in recent months, traffic wardens have been ticketing without restraint.

Coun Derique Montaut (Lab, Central): “At one stage traffic wardens took a softly softly approach.

“But we are now saying everyone should be treated the same. There should be no privileges.”

Mansoor Khan, secretary of the Thamesdown Islamic Association, said: “The parking situation is atrocious.

“We are getting sick and tired of it. People don’t have time to go to a car park and walk, as they are on their lunch break from work.”

Muhammad Ali, a representative of the Marat Shahjalal mosque in Manchester Road, said spaces are empty during Islamic prayer time, as residents are at work anyway.

“A lot of prayer goers are getting tickets every week,” he said.

“It is causing unnecessary arguments. I don’t think it is too much to ask for us to be allowed to park in empty resident parking spaces for one hour.

“People should be facilitated for religious purposes.”

Since the parking attendants started cracking down about three months ago, Mr Ali describes the mood as disheartened.

“We are just looking for harmony,” he said.

He added that he felt the Muslim community was often blamed for illegal parking outside the Mirchi Cash and Carry in Manchester Road, but he puts it down to shoppers.

Coun Junab Ali (Lab, Central) is trying to find a solution to the problem, which may involve securing spaces in a car park nearby.

But any suggestions would need to be agreed by Broadgreen residents, he added.

“At the end of the day we live in one community and we want better inclusion and cohesion,” he said.

“There is one rule for everybody. The law is for all of us.”

If you have got a view, then please leave your comment below. However, the Swindon Advertiser would caution all posters to be aware of the terms and conditions of the website which states that users must not post material which is defamatory, offensive, or of an obscene or menacing character. We welcome constructive and informed debate, and we will take action against any poster who abuses these terms. The poster will be liable for any legal claim from a third party.

Comments(71)

RFM says...
10:37am Mon 12 Jan 09

we want better inclusion and cohesion,” he said.

Well you're certainly not going to achieve that by wanting to be excluded from laws that apply to everyone else!

Pathetic!

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sadgit says...
10:49am Mon 12 Jan 09

The law is the law for everyone.
Lets keep it that way.

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shylaird says...
10:52am Mon 12 Jan 09

Why should they be exempt from the parking restrictions that we all have to abide by, does this promote closer community links? I thnk not. What will be next? exemption from any law they feel they dont like?

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Futures says...
10:54am Mon 12 Jan 09

Why on earth should they be exempt from parking laws?!

And as for blaming them for the illegal parking outside the Cash & Carry down manchester Road, that's probably because it is them! There's vans unloading shedloads of Rice otside that shop on a daily basis, and even if it were the Customers who were causing the blockage, surely it's the job of the Cash & Carry Staff to move them along?

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MyViewOk says...
10:58am Mon 12 Jan 09

"At the end of the day we live in one community..." If this is the case, then surely you wouldn't want to potentionally cause a split in the community by wanting preferential treatment. One rule fits all, why should you be any different?

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Always Grumpy says...
11:00am Mon 12 Jan 09

What a cheek, who the hell do they think they are?

The same laws and rules should apply to them, the same way they apply to us. No way should they be allowed to get away with this.

If they are going to be allowed to park then anyone else done for illegal parking should sue the council under racial discrimination laws!

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SaneSwindoner says...
11:09am Mon 12 Jan 09

Wow there's one for integration! The laws no matter how inconvenient apply to everyone in society, there is no such thing as "bending the rules" for one sector. There is no way this should be allowed to continue!

As for residents parking, the residents pay for that privelidge and why should people clog up these spaces? Would they want to move into the houses for free too?

Why not travel to their place of worship by foot, bus, taxi?

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hmmmm says...
11:13am Mon 12 Jan 09

Well they could change the law and let people park around the area between 12 and 2 on a Friday. I can't see this being a problem if the residential parking areas are freed up form people being at work.

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Geoff Reid says...
11:15am Mon 12 Jan 09

If churches and temples are supposed to be at the heart of various communities, why do so many worshippers travel to them by car?

Another good example of worshippers travelling into an area by car, then clogging up local roads with badly and illegally parked cars is St Peters Roman Catholic Church in West Swindon.

If worshippers don't live close enough to their chosen place of worship to walk there, and they're not prepared to use public transport but preferring instead to drive there and chance getting a ticket....then it's tough luck. God gave them all freedom of choice, but not immunity from the law.

No one forces anyone to go to church by car, and nothing destroys inter-faith and inter-community harmony quicker than one group saying to the other: "Your laws should not apply to me because of my right to worship"

Shouldn't all new build churches, temples and mosques be in town centres, next to pay and display car parks, or completely out of town in 'Faith Parks'.....

....like retail parks but for the God Squad.

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Why oh why says...
11:15am Mon 12 Jan 09

If they are allowed to get away with not having a permit I think everybody who does have to pay for one should apply for a refund from Swindon Council.
It is bad enough when there are football matches on and the fact we have to pay £25 a year for the off chance that we might be able to park in the street we live in.

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Itssomewheretowork says...
11:17am Mon 12 Jan 09

I believe that worshippers of all faiths should be treated the same. Those people who attend churches in Swindon town centre on a Sunday have to pay.

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FunkyPablo says...
11:18am Mon 12 Jan 09

We're talking about the two mosques that ate within 100 metres of the central bus station?

I believe that the muslim community have a case for a purpose-built mosque within the town, on the same basis that the Gurdwara was built at Kembrey Park.

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dc the 2nd says...
11:29am Mon 12 Jan 09

Dear Council,

I hreby request a refund on my parking tickets, for parking on double yellows outside my house (when all residents bays were full), because i was going to church/temple/mosque at the time.

Ta

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Bobfm says...
11:31am Mon 12 Jan 09

Little more needs to be said, integration is about taking the rough with the smooth, one assumes it was the Asian Communities decision to site the mosques where they are.

I think these areas have had more than their fair share of help from the Council and HMG.

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Desperatedan1 says...
11:34am Mon 12 Jan 09

Walk,Get a Bus ,Get a Taxi or Park in the Town centre.Everyone else has to use these options.

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Mansoor the sec says...
11:35am Mon 12 Jan 09

there is the county ground car park which is 5 mins walk down the from mosque. thats not a long walk! if they are getting tickets every week why not jst pay the 80p each week or what ever it is and not worry?

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PeeveD says...
11:43am Mon 12 Jan 09

hmmmm wrote:
Well they could change the law and let people park around the area between 12 and 2 on a Friday. I can't see this being a problem if the residential parking areas are freed up form people being at work.
And what next? How many more laws do we change to fit in with differing groups?
OUR laws are OUR laws!!!!
Abide with them or face the consequences.... simple!
If the council were to bring about the changes you propose do you know how many people would have a right to expect a refund on their fines?

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Opinionated Wench says...
11:44am Mon 12 Jan 09

I want to do my shopping for an hour and not have to pay parking. Should i be exempt??? Why should they be exempt? Religion? I'm sorry thats not on, The law is there for everyone... If the council have been turning a blind eye then that is favouring one religion over another. Isnt there something wrong with that?

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ourtone says...
11:47am Mon 12 Jan 09

At the start of this article, the Adver have chosen to include a warning against comments which may be defamatory, offensive, or of an obscene or menacing character.

Why did they feel that was necessary in a story about Parking Offences!

Personally I think this is discriminatory. Anyway, on with the post.

Solutions
1) Car-sharing
2) Buy one day permits from the council
3) The Mosque could hire a shuttle bus and everyone could park at e.g. the County ground!

If any special concession is made for these guys, then I will consider that I have been discriminated against by the Council!

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Big Mac says...
12:17pm Mon 12 Jan 09

"In the past, there was an unwritten rule that wardens largely ignored illegally parked cars during their sermons,"

I am deeply concerned about this admission.

"Coun Derique Montaut (Lab, Central): At one stage traffic wardens took a softly softly approach."

This presumably means that Councillor Montaut was aware that a Council department was neglecting to do its job correctly. Why did it take him so long to correct the problem?

The reality is that parking restrictions are a mess all over the town centre and Old Town area. They have been for years. The Council has promised to remove pointless double and single yellow lines but have failed to do so.

I fail to see why any particular element of the community should receive preferential treatment or be allowed to break the law with impunity.

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Home Boy says...
12:18pm Mon 12 Jan 09

The idea of religion being exempt from any law, no matter how trivial, scares me! Where is the natural conclusion to that arguement?

However, I can't see any reason why resident's zones around the entire town centre couldn't be relaxed at lunch time on week days. Why not allow parking in all resident zones between 12noon - 2pm to encourage people into the already struggling shops in the town centre? I work out of town and it does annoy me having to pay to park if I go in at lunch time when there's empty resident's bays everywhere. Although I wouldn't request a story in the Adver about my plight as a shopper and how unfair it is that I have to pay to park during my lunch break!

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john c says...
12:22pm Mon 12 Jan 09

I am happy to hear that the parking wardens are no longer condoning law breaking by motorists in Manchester Road every Friday.
There is no need to park illegally to get to any location on Manchester road as there are car parks at either end of the road and the road it self is served by more busses than just about any other area of Swindon.

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sn5 says...
12:35pm Mon 12 Jan 09

why should they be allowed to chose which parking law they obey - it's the same for all. if they don't like the parking why not move away from a residential area as the sikhs(sp?) did?

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Home Boy says...
12:40pm Mon 12 Jan 09

I have to say that there is some good use of "them", "they", etc. in this post. I'm sure it's only a minority of the users of the specific Mosques in question that a parking illegally and not the entire Muslim population of Swindon.

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P S Altery says...
12:41pm Mon 12 Jan 09

This is an outrage. I live in the area and know how chronic the problem parking is. The dangerous, and at times illegal parking, is not just confined to the Mosque, as the authorities well know. I have been having a running battle with the council since 1999 over the parking in Corporation St, a problem which both themselves and Anne Snelgrove's Bob what ever is name is refused to admit was happening. The authority have now written to me admitting the parking in the area is chronic. However,existing legislation is not being enforced in the area in general. Pavements are often blocked in the Corporation Street area, as anyone who knows the area will be aware of. Service alleys are also blocked. On one occasion I saw a young mother with her pushchair having to use the road as the pavement is often blocked, which under the road management traffic act is an offence. I've also seen an old lady struggling past a car parked in a sevice alley. Invariably the miscreants, (who also park on double yellow lines with impunity)use the shops in corporation street, but more often than not the internet cafe. And I know why this is ignored. A few years ago I complained to the Police, I was told, strictly off the record, that they had been told to turn a blind eye to such activities in the interests of good community relations. Now some (although not all elements of parking, despite what the Police claim) are the responsibility of the Council, I suspect the same holds true. In other words one part of the communuity can openly break the law with impunity and one section of the community cannot. Outrageous.

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nansview says...
12:41pm Mon 12 Jan 09

Homeboy, then a resident who needs to park at lunch time, is forced on to the lines and gets a ticket, thats not fair, in our road no matter what time of day or night you have to fight for a space as it is!I had to give up a job I loved due to lack of residents spaces, I finished at 1am, no buses running, and couldn't afford taxi's, so when I got home there was rarely anywhere to park, I would get up before 7 to move the car(spaces seldom became free before 7am)but quite often the wardens had beaten me to it!when I took this up with a Councillor, I was told to park in the public car park in town centre and walk home on my own in the early hours of the morning! the law was the law and no matter how unfair I was not above it and had to take radical action to solve the problem, which happened to be a job change!

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Big Mac says...
1:55pm Mon 12 Jan 09

To follow Geoff's comment, I also think The Adver have been a bit heavy handed with their headline.

Reading the article, it would appear that the users of the Mosque are simply experiencing the same resigned deflation we all feel when handed tickets whilst parked outside our own homes or place of work.

Comments made in the article hardly seem to indicate any particular 'fury'.

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P S Altery says...
1:59pm Mon 12 Jan 09

Having said my piece I cannot blame the people who have been for years parking illegally. If they know that if you park in allocated parking spaces, pavements, service alleys and double yellow lines, and the authorities will do nothing, why bother with the slight inconvenience, and cost of using a car park. All the easier to park on sopmeones allocated parking space or illegally, and dangerously use the pavement. I suspect the current fuss is due to the authority finally clamping dowm (a decade later than it should of) on a situation that never should have been tolerated. I also think that there should be an immediate investigation into the unbelievable commenst made by Dereque Montaut when he has gone on public record admitting that the authority were not just refusing to enforce legislation, but selective choosing who to fine and who not too based on their ethnic background.

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yeti says...
2:06pm Mon 12 Jan 09

stop wasting your time praying to gods which dont exist, then you wont need to ask to be able to break the law that everyone else has to abide by.brainwashed fools and with a bloody cheek as well

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Home Boy says...
2:09pm Mon 12 Jan 09

That ought to do it...

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Khan Saab says...
2:24pm Mon 12 Jan 09

As a member of the Muslim community, I am disgusted by this proposal of Thamesdown Islamic Association. If you dont want to get a ticket, park LEGALLY. In a car park. Or walk.

Anyways, how long is this proposal going to last - the mosque has been there how long? 10 years? Why has it become an issue today? You expect the council to waive parking tickets for the next 10 years? Thamesdown Islamic Association, pull your fingure out and think ahead more than just 2 days.

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Popcorn says...
2:30pm Mon 12 Jan 09

The law applies to EVERYONE. I am a disabled driver. My son lives in the area concerned. I often have to cancel my visit to him because of indiscriminate parking even on double yellow lines and pavements. The Catholic church in Groundwell Road has this same problem however, I do not hear anyone complaining or asking for 'SPECIAL' treatment. As for the Residents parking being empty it is probably because they can't get a space. Laws are there to be followed by everyone. Letting a particular group have SPECIAL PRIVILEGES will cause a lot of bad feeling. Residents pay a HEFTY PRICE for parking outside their OWN HOMES.

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nuddy2 says...
2:58pm Mon 12 Jan 09

I live in the Broadgreen Area, although it’s far enough away from the Mosques not to be effected by these parking problems. I do however pay for the privilege of parking in the area that I live in and take offence to the fact that lot’s of people who obviously do not live here or they wouldn’t need to drive, feel they should have special dispensation to park in a residents parking areas, without penalty, on the grounds of religion.

I note that Mohamed Ali of the Manchester Rd Mosque said “spaces are empty during Islamic prayer time, as residents are at work anyway. I don’t think it is too much to ask for us to be allowed to park in empty resident parking spaces for one hour” I have also heard this sort of comment made by people using the community centre in Broad St, which only has a small car park, - that they should be able to park in the empty res. park spaces, and yes it is true there are often empty spaces during the day, but that is the point of a residents parking zone it’s in place for the residents for a very good reason.

I remember only too well the parking situation before res. park was brought in, when every Tom Dick and Harry used to park here to go shopping or football and so did many of the employees at Garrards, it was a joke trying to find a parking space if you were a resident.

The Muslim Community opened both of these Mosques in the full knowledge that they were in a residents parking zone, which is pretty much self-descriptive i.e. the parking is for the residents, so It’s no good moaning that people are being ticketed for illegally parking, when it’s obvious they are.

I do think someone at the council should be answerable to the fact that a blind eye has been turned for years on the actions of a small group of people, who have been openly breaking the law, apparently with the councils blessing.

“We are just looking for harmony” said Mr Ali, well it won’t happen like this. There is one law for all to abide to, if not all you are doing is driving a wedge between people by causing bad feeling.

One final thing, as the parking is so bad, why don’t both Mosques sell up and buy some land big enough for one big Mosque and enough parking for the entire group of worshipper? After all the Sikh community managed to do it.

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nuddy2 says...
3:03pm Mon 12 Jan 09

I live in the Broadgreen Area, although it’s far enough away from the Mosques not to be effected by these parking problems. I do however pay for the privilege of parking in the area that I live in and take offence to the fact that lot’s of people who obviously do not live here or they wouldn’t need to drive, feel they should have special dispensation to park in a residents parking areas, without penalty, on the grounds of religion.

I note that Mohamed Ali of the Manchester Rd Mosque said “spaces are empty during Islamic prayer time, as residents are at work anyway. I don’t think it is too much to ask for us to be allowed to park in empty resident parking spaces for one hour” I have also heard this sort of comment made by people using the community centre in Broad St, which only has a small car park, - that they should be able to park in the empty res. park spaces, and yes it is true there are often empty spaces during the day, but that is the point of a residents parking zone it’s in place for the residents for a very good reason.

I remember only too well the parking situation before res. park was brought in, when every Tom Dick and Harry used to park here to go shopping or football and so did many of the employees at Garrards, it was a joke trying to find a parking space if you were a resident.

The Muslim Community opened both of these Mosques in the full knowledge that they were in a residents parking zone, which is pretty much self-descriptive i.e. the parking is for the residents, so It’s no good moaning that people are being ticketed for illegally parking, when it’s obvious they are.

I do think someone at the council should be answerable to the fact that a blind eye has been turned for years on the actions of a small group of people, who have been openly breaking the law, apparently with the councils blessing.

“We are just looking for harmony” said Mr Ali, well it won’t happen like this. There is one law for all to abide to, if not all you are doing is driving a wedge between people by causing bad feeling.

One final thing, as the parking is so bad, why don’t both Mosques sell up and buy some land big enough for one big Mosque and enough parking for the entire group of worshipper? After all the Sikh community managed to do it.

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Big Mac says...
3:11pm Mon 12 Jan 09

I'd add a third call, in this thread alone, for an investigation to be launched into why Derique Montaut has been aware of this situation for some length of time but has only now decided to back the council for doing their job properly.

Central ward's councillors often seem to be treading a very dangerous line in their behaviour and comments, but openly acknowledging the council turning a blind eye to law breakers is something different entirely.

The quote, from Mr Montaut, that:

"But we are now saying everyone should be treated the same. There should be no privileges."

Means he was clearly aware of the issue but has switched his position on the matter.

Can The Adver push for an investigation? Now that the parking is being enforced correctly in the area and people are being ticketed, I don't doubt it'd be too hard to find people more than willing to reveal what Mr Montaut's previous stance on the issue had been.

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Donkey says...
3:29pm Mon 12 Jan 09

Desperate, very desperate B Mc! Just how trivial can you get?

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RFM says...
3:33pm Mon 12 Jan 09

What they need to do is commandeer a new school in North Swindon and not only limit access to local children to just 50% of available places but also slap a big mosque with ample parking in the middle of the playground!!!!! Job done.

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writer says...
3:40pm Mon 12 Jan 09

At the end of the day, worshipping (I didn't say religion or religious practices) has nothing to do with civil law. The cars are not inside the temple but on the street, so secular law applies.
Same rules for everyone... Pay.

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PeeveD says...
4:20pm Mon 12 Jan 09

Donkey wrote:
Desperate, very desperate B Mc! Just how trivial can you get?
And if it had been a Tory who said it?

What a fool you are making yourself look!

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Bobfm says...
5:07pm Mon 12 Jan 09

It is very welcome to see so many posts and none have been offensive, a couple a bit near. I have to say Khan Saab sums it up. If you don't want a ticket don't illegally park.

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Big Mac says...
5:11pm Mon 12 Jan 09

Donkey wrote:
Desperate, very desperate B Mc! Just how trivial can you get?
Not at all, Donkey.

It would appear that a Councillor has been aware of a Council department 'turning a blind eye' to illegal parking in one specific area by a specific group of motorists.

As PeeveD correctly points out, had the Councillor in question been a Tory councillor 'ignoring' illegal activity on his patch, you'd have been the first screaming blue murder (excuse the pun) about it.

As it is, at least three people in this thread have now questioned Mr Montaut's involvement in this practice.

Do you think it's only Tory councillors that must play by the rules?

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Yazoo says...
5:12pm Mon 12 Jan 09

If I pop to the bank I have to pay for parking. If I pop to the post office I have to pay for parking. If I visit someone in the hospital I have to pay for parking & if I choose to go out for a drink I pay for parking, a bus, a taxi or I walk. It seems a little unfair that certain muslims think it's their right not to pay for parking just beceause of who they are or what they are doing!

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romansoldier says...
6:22pm Mon 12 Jan 09

I picked my grandson to take him to nursery,got booked for staying 10 minutes, when I spoke to thw warden about all the other cars illigally parked he said that they are praying and its only for an hour .Should I claim my money back from the council

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Dosomethingmutley says...
6:27pm Mon 12 Jan 09

Unfortunately, it would seem that far from promoting harmony, the request by members of the Mosque to be exempted from local traffic regulations, has in fact caused more divisions and highlighted an unacceptable situation regarding illegal parking in a residents parking area, for which they pay.
The whole area including Manchester Road was built in a time before motor vehicles, hence the provision of adequate parking is always going to be an issue.
I travel Manchester Road regularly and frequently have to squeeze past delivery vehicles or customers cars outside the growing number of cash and carries or other commercial premises that have sprung up over the past few years.
Surely the issue is which bright spark gave planning permission for the Mosques and numerous shops, when clearly there was never going to be the facilities to support all this activity.
In the meantime, I am afraid the worshippers will have to do as the rest of us do, pay to park in the carpark at Carlton Street and walk the 150 yards or so to the Mosque.

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Dosomethingmutley says...
6:27pm Mon 12 Jan 09

Unfortunately, it would seem that far from promoting harmony, the request by members of the Mosque to be exempted from local traffic regulations, has in fact caused more divisions and highlighted an unacceptable situation regarding illegal parking in a residents parking area, for which they pay.
The whole area including Manchester Road was built in a time before motor vehicles, hence the provision of adequate parking is always going to be an issue.
I travel Manchester Road regularly and frequently have to squeeze past delivery vehicles or customers cars outside the growing number of cash and carries or other commercial premises that have sprung up over the past few years.
Surely the issue is which bright spark gave planning permission for the Mosques and numerous shops, when clearly there was never going to be the facilities to support all this activity.
In the meantime, I am afraid the worshippers will have to do as the rest of us do, pay to park in the carpark at Carlton Street and walk the 150 yards or so to the Mosque.

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Dick-Turpin says...
6:46pm Mon 12 Jan 09

I wouldn't be surprised if it was Councillor pressure on staff not to ticket the worshippers. As PS Altry quoted the police saying "Alot of this goes on for the sake of good community relations". Now if that's not another word for discrimmination (or fear of being called racist) I don't know what is. The law is the law and is there for a reason, there should be no exception to the rule. The parking bays in the area are there for the residents, not shoppers, worshippers or for commuters, it is simply for parking for the needs of the residents in an area that was built before everyone had one or two cars per household.

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cfa says...
7:41pm Mon 12 Jan 09

I never have a problem parking my mate Prince Harry drops me off.


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P S Altery says...
7:56pm Mon 12 Jan 09

I am quite happy to join Big Mac into an investigation into Coucillor Montaut's revealing comments as to how one section of the community has been allowed to break the law based on their ethnic background. As Mr Montaut is doubtless aware both the Police and the local authority are legally bound to enforce Govt legislation. What these people are not allowed to do is selectivley base this enforcement, or lack of, based on a persons religion, skin colour and ethnic background. It is offensive and being doubtlessly discriminatory is probably illegal. I find Donkey's comment naive in the exreme and offensive. It is in effect standing up for a coucillor who has admitted a covert policy of enforcing laws based on religion and race. If the boot was on the other foot Donkey would be outraged, and he would be right. I have long suspected this was happening and now someone needs to come clean on this, Mr Montaut may wish to start explaining these discriminatory and what I believe to be illegal actions.

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P S Altery says...
8:16pm Mon 12 Jan 09

romansoldier wrote:
I picked my grandson to take him to nursery,got booked for staying 10 minutes, when I spoke to thw warden about all the other cars illigally parked he said that they are praying and its only for an hour .Should I claim my money back from the council
Take the council to court and sue them for discrimination. They are not legally allowed to selectivley enforce the law based on who they think should be fined and who should not. What the coucil has been doing is against the law. The law applies to is all, it applies to everyone or not at all. Now I really think some questions need to be asked. We already have an admission by a local Councillor that this is going on. May I suggest going to the nationals with this one? I think there is a strong case for legal action here.

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swindonmum says...
8:57pm Mon 12 Jan 09

I do think that during 'office hours' non-residents should be able to park for more than 5 minutes. I have to be at work 5 minutes after my children start school so the only option is to drive and the school is by residents only parking. There are a few spaces that you can park for an hour but the rest of the street is empty. Even extending the 5 mins to 15 would help between 8.30 and 5pm. However, it is unfair to expect it to be extended for any longer as then it will be abused by shoppers etc. As for allowing worshippers to park FOC how does the traffic warden know who they are? Also has the traffic warden in the area changed recently? If so was the obld one taking back handers?????

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thenoose says...
7:43am Tue 13 Jan 09

Well I think you are all racist. People of other faiths to our own should be able to come and go as they please and that includes parking. We should be far more accommodating and allow them to do what ever they want. Afterall they are only going to be there for an hour while they pray.

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Bobfm says...
8:01am Tue 13 Jan 09

The wishes of the Muslim Leaders has certainly created division. The law is the law. If the council and the police have deliberately ignored the parking as a matter of policy, they should be held to account.

I have said it many times you cannot legislate to avoid prejudice, it just creates more, and this apparent, action inflames the situation.

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ourtone says...
8:48am Tue 13 Jan 09

thenoose, Swindon says...
7:43am Tue 13 Jan 09
Well I think you are all racist. People of other faiths to our own should be able to come and go as they please and that includes parking. We should be far more accommodating and allow them to do what ever they want.


Well said chap!

Speaking as a Jedi, (2001 census) I need to pray for nine hours every weekday and for about three hours every other Saturday. I can only do this in the town centre, and I claim my free parking please.

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Bobfm says...
10:17am Tue 13 Jan 09

FunkyPablo, well said.

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angelagonzalez says...
11:13am Tue 13 Jan 09

"Well I think you are all racist. People of other faiths to our own should be able to come and go as they please and that includes parking. We should be far more accommodating and allow them to do what ever they want. Afterall they are only going to be there for an hour while they pray. "

Racists? Islam is a religion, not a race! Muslims come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

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Tonyblairisthedevil says...
11:43am Tue 13 Jan 09

Arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics, you may win but your still a retard.

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Cat_cat_cat says...
12:06pm Tue 13 Jan 09

This story is absolutely unbelieveable. How dare these "worshippers" expect to break the law & have the council turn a blind eye to them.

No doubt the council will give in to their demands, seeing as nowadays we have to step softly-softly around ethnic minorities for fear of offending them. What a kick in the teeth to the rest of us.

Residents parking - there's a clue in the name!! Residents have to pay for the privilege of parking outside their own homes - if they're lucky!

And how do they know the "residents are at work anyway"? Have they done surveillance on their daily activities? Door-to-door surveys? What if the residents have just popped out to do some shopping?? (well, they'll have a tough time trying to unload it on their return, cos their space will be taken up by someone else!)

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Bobfm says...
12:11pm Tue 13 Jan 09

Oh dear the very thing the SA feared has happened, people now being offensive. I guess some people just cannot help themselves.

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ourtone says...
12:20pm Tue 13 Jan 09

Bobfm, South Marston says...
Oh dear the very thing the SA feared has happened, people now being offensive. I guess some people just cannot help themselves.


I disagree. Some people have been helping themselves. In this case they have been helping themselves to free parking.

It looks like various F.O.D. councillors (Friends of Donkey,) let this go as they were too scared to do anything.

It now looks like we have councillors who (a) have noticed and (b) have the guts to do something about it.

Well done all round, better late than never.

Security word "vote-path," loving the irony.

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ourtone says...
12:21pm Tue 13 Jan 09

Bobfm, South Marston says...
Oh dear the very thing the SA feared has happened, people now being offensive. I guess some people just cannot help themselves.


I disagree. Some people have been helping themselves. In this case they have been helping themselves to free parking.

It looks like various F.O.D. councillors (Friends of Donkey,) let this go as they were too scared to do anything.

It now looks like we have councillors who (a) have noticed and (b) have the guts to do something about it.

Well done all round, better late than never.

Security word "vote-path," loving the irony.

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Home Boy says...
12:25pm Tue 13 Jan 09

Tonyblairisthedevil wrote:
Arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics, you may win but your still a retard.
Intelligent!

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nuddy2 says...
1:15pm Tue 13 Jan 09

Ourtone said:
'It now looks like we have councillors who (a) have noticed and (b) have the guts to do something about it.

Well done all round, better late than never.'

Or more likely they have been forced to take notice because residents have had enough.
These parking problems have been ongoing for many years, it's just that the parking department have now taken their responsibilities seriously.
I'm willing to bet it wasn't any of the councillors that wanted to take this forward, too much like hard work and hassle for them!

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Tonyblairisthedevil says...
3:59pm Tue 13 Jan 09

Home Boy wrote:
Tonyblairisthedevil wrote: Arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics, you may win but your still a retard.
Intelligent!
I thought so, seeing as your all arguing about pretty pointless issues.. If us brits are not complaining about something we are not happy...

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yeti says...
4:28pm Tue 13 Jan 09

the coucil should be investigated. it would appear that they have discriminated against anyone who parks a car and isn't a muslim until now.turning a blind eye whilst other motorists are fined is an absolute disgrace.

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Tonyblairisthedevil says...
6:00pm Tue 13 Jan 09

I think the time has come to make a stand, we should start with a major and i mean major leflet campaign..

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P S Altery says...
9:12pm Tue 13 Jan 09

We should start with a letter to the counils parking dept at Swindon Borough Council Parking Administration, Civic Offices, Euclid Street, Swindon SN1 2JH. The tel number is 01783 - 463000. In it you should demand an explantion as to why the authority has seemingly operated a two tier policy of regulation enforcement based on religious and ethnic background, in it you should point out that:-

a) They have no right to have done so

b)_It is illegal

They can be e-mailed on

parking@swindon.govt
.uk

If you see a car parked in allocated parking space then you should phone the parking dept on Swindon 574925. If you see a car blocking a pavement, parked on double yellow lines or parked in a service alley then this is still the responsibility of the Police. They do not want to fulfil their legal responsibilities but have a duty to do so. They are contactable on 084554087000. If they either refuse to attend, or do not turn up then you should write to the Chief Constable outlining your concerns. In a similar vein if your access to a private parking space is blocked, or if that space is being used, this is now a criminal offence and you have every right to take civil action against the illegal parker. The fine for clocking private parking spaces is astronomical. You should also write to the national papers about this action by the council.

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faatmaan says...
10:02pm Tue 13 Jan 09

why does one religion want exemption from parking, a brand new school, surely these events are going to alienate this part of the population.They openly admit to overcrowding at the Broad St site, another case of the authorities turning a blind eye to maximum permitted occupancy, the problem would be bested served with the relocation of said event to a more suitable premises away from areas with parking issues, so they should either move out or live in harmony obeying the same laws of the land, remember this religion is prevalent in non democratic countries, where non conforming views can result in barbaric opposition, they have to choose to live our democracy rules ,the ball is firmly in their court.

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swindonmum says...
11:16pm Tue 13 Jan 09

The problem is with a situation like this, is soon as anyone complains then the complainee is accused of racism, sexism, whateverelse-ism, we have a huge amount of cultures in the area and the sooner everyone accepts the same rules apply to all of us then the better. This parking situation must not be allowed to continue though as it is discriminatory to anyone who is not worshipping at the mosque. The only other answer is if the council decide not to ticket any illegal parking within a few streets of any religious building.

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Terence says...
8:18am Wed 14 Jan 09

Tonyblairisthedevil wrote:
Home Boy wrote:
Tonyblairisthedevil wrote: Arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics, you may win but your still a retard.
Intelligent!
I thought so, seeing as your all arguing about pretty pointless issues.. If us brits are not complaining about something we are not happy...
You're still a retard, not 'your'. It's quite humourous how you make a weak attempt at calling others 'retards' (personally I don't care for this term) but in the process only expose your own deficiencies.

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ourtone says...
9:46am Wed 14 Jan 09

faatmaan, swindon says...
remember this religion is prevalent in non democratic countries, where non conforming views can result in barbaric opposition,


Indeed.

I invite people to consider the chances of going to Saudi Arabia and being allowed to even open a church, never mind asking for permission to commit a criminal offence while using it.

You would have the life expectancy of a snowflake in a blast furnace.

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Home Boy says...
10:22am Wed 14 Jan 09

Not that it's anything to do with this story, but the Vatican is currently in discussions with Saudi regarding the opening of Catholic Churches. They also have churches in a number of the smaller Arabian states. I don't know if they get free parking, although the planning system is pretty good in that part of the world so they probably weren't allowed to build them without providing adequate parking.

This story has nothing to do with the religion, or ethnic origin, of the people involved (even if councillors/the police don't seem to understand that). I'm sure exactly the same situation occurs around many schools in town and around shops, dentists, opticians and doctor's surgeries in older residential areas.

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