PC Council bans free parking for over 1000 Christians

Britannist · 10-11-2006, 12:55 AM

Councillors in Plymouth have stopped free car parking on Sundays at St. Andrew’s Church and the City Methodist Hall (which is part of St. Andrew’s). The Church and the Methodist Hall have a joint congregation of 1000 people. The council said that giving free car parking to Christians might offend those of other religions. Parishioners will now have to pay 70 pence per hour in parking (£.140 to cover the entire time spent in church). Plymouth Council will make £36, 000 extra a year by making churchgoers pay to park their cars.

The Rev. Nick McKinnel of St. Andrew’s said the politically correct decision of Plymouth Council to effectively make people pay to pray was “shabby”. The council told the Rev. Paul Smith of the Methodist Church at Plymouth that it didn’t give free parking to Muslims in the city on a Friday (the Muslim religious day) and would not, therefore, do so for Christians anymore.

There are 150 churches in Plymouth and 1 Mosque for 883 Muslims. The city also has 182 Jewish residents and 470 Buddhists. The 2002 Census said that 1.3% of the population of Plymouth was non-Christian.

Source: Taken from the Daily Mail and Daily Express (8.11.2006), abbreviated and re-written.

Independent UKIP · 10-11-2006, 01:42 AM

Who actually made that decision?

The councillors? An opportunity for UKIP Plymouth I think.

The council officials? An opportunity for UKIP Plymouth I think.

If it was in fact about increased demand for parking on Sundays that could be a different matter entirely.

Why and how do the council control Church car parks? I suspect the full story has not been reported? It could be that church lands were decades ago handed over to the council for worshipper parking provision or it could be that council land was allocated for worshipper parking provision? That reality could be very relevant to the truth of this matter.

Britannist · 10-11-2006, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Independent UKIP

Who actually made that decision?

The councillors? An opportunity for UKIP Plymouth I think.

The council officials? An opportunity for UKIP Plymouth I think.

If it was in fact about increased demand for parking on Sundays that could be a different matter entirely.

Why and how do the council control Church car parks? I suspect the full story has not been reported? It could be that church lands were decades ago handed over to the council for worshipper parking provision or it could be that council land was allocated for worshipper parking provision? That reality could be very relevant to the truth of this matter.

I would imagine that the City councillors made the final decision after being advised by officials in the relevant council department.

I wonder who controls the City of Plymouth council - it sounds like it's the europhile politically correct Labour or Liberal Dim parties (or both in coalition).

prober · 10-11-2006, 11:45 AM

Any UKIPs from Plymouth watching this forum. Time for agro.

Besoeker · 11-11-2006, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Britannist

Councillors in Plymouth have stopped free car parking on Sundays at St. Andrew’s Church and the City Methodist Hall (which is part of St. Andrew’s). The Church and the Methodist Hall have a joint congregation of 1000 people. The council said that giving free car parking to Christians might offend those of other religions. Parishioners will now have to pay 70 pence per hour in parking (£.140 to cover the entire time spent in church). Plymouth Council will make £36, 000 extra a year by making churchgoers pay to park their cars.

Seems to me that there is some really muddled thinking there.
Free parking is free parking. Free to anyone. Regardless of race, creed or colour.

mkpdavies · 12-11-2006, 12:29 PM

Countries that aren't overcrowded don't charge for parking at all.

Britannist · 12-11-2006, 09:00 PM

It looks to me as if the decision might be down to a few politically correct people inside Plymouth City Council possibly pushing their own agenda.

I bet not one person of the Muslim faith asked for the decision to be made.

Besoeker · 13-11-2006, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Britannist

It looks to me as if the decision might be down to a few politically correct people inside Plymouth City Council possibly pushing their own agenda.

More likely a percieved opportunity to increase revenue rather than any higher moral stance.

10-11-2006, 12:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 22,896	PC Council bans free parking for over 1000 Christians Councillors in Plymouth have stopped free car parking on Sundays at St. Andrew’s Church and the City Methodist Hall (which is part of St. Andrew’s). The Church and the Methodist Hall have a joint congregation of 1000 people. The council said that giving free car parking to Christians might offend those of other religions. Parishioners will now have to pay 70 pence per hour in parking (£.140 to cover the entire time spent in church). Plymouth Council will make £36, 000 extra a year by making churchgoers pay to park their cars. The Rev. Nick McKinnel of St. Andrew’s said the politically correct decision of Plymouth Council to effectively make people pay to pray was “shabby”. The council told the Rev. Paul Smith of the Methodist Church at Plymouth that it didn’t give free parking to Muslims in the city on a Friday (the Muslim religious day) and would not, therefore, do so for Christians anymore. There are 150 churches in Plymouth and 1 Mosque for 883 Muslims. The city also has 182 Jewish residents and 470 Buddhists. The 2002 Census said that 1.3% of the population of Plymouth was non-Christian. Source: Taken from the Daily Mail and Daily Express (8.11.2006), abbreviated and re-written.

12-11-2006, 12:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 31,112 Party: Libertarian Party	Countries that aren't overcrowded don't charge for parking at all. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

12-11-2006, 09:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 22,896	Politically correct pushing their own agenda? It looks to me as if the decision might be down to a few politically correct people inside Plymouth City Council possibly pushing their own agenda. I bet not one person of the Muslim faith asked for the decision to be made.

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10-11-2006, 01:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
Independent UKIP Uber Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London Posts: 2,427	Who actually made that decision? The councillors? An opportunity for UKIP Plymouth I think. The council officials? An opportunity for UKIP Plymouth I think. If it was in fact about increased demand for parking on Sundays that could be a different matter entirely. Why and how do the council control Church car parks? I suspect the full story has not been reported? It could be that church lands were decades ago handed over to the council for worshipper parking provision or it could be that council land was allocated for worshipper parking provision? That reality could be very relevant to the truth of this matter.

10-11-2006, 11:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
prober Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 855	Any UKIPs from Plymouth watching this forum. Time for agro.