Election Year or Fear!

[Andy_Faber]

As an aside…also got back from a month in Spain a week ago. During the whole 28 days when we went out just about every other day I spent a grand total of 7 euros on parking and that included being stung for 6 euros on our last day at Segovia Catherdral.
Today, parking with Q Park in Nottingham between 12.30 and 4.30 cost 13.20GBP and that is likely to go up to 17.50GBP because we over ran by 20 mins. Why do we put up with such complete rip offs in this country?

Because, and this is in no way a dig at you especially if there was someone with limited mobility with you, in the case of parking its laziness. Same town different gig, I went to the 100 (sorry GP) at Trent Bridge and could have parked a mile away for free. I know there was on road parking available, my sis called me to say so. But I couldn't be bothered with the walk so paid ?6.50 to park maybe two minutes from the gate. If everyone, me included, parked further away for free the pay to park enterprises would have no business. Just my opinion, and as like you I've been in Europe recently there are far, far more fundamental issues where UK have 'let things slip'

[ramAnag]

Because, and this is in no way a dig at you especially if there was someone with limited mobility with you, in the case of parking its laziness. Same town different gig, I went to the 100 (sorry GP) at Trent Bridge and could have parked a mile away for free. I know there was on road parking available, my sis called me to say so. But I couldn't be bothered with the walk so paid ?6.50 to park maybe two minutes from the gate. If everyone, me included, parked further away for free the pay to park enterprises would have no business. Just my opinion, and as like you I've been in Europe recently there are far, far more fundamental issues where UK have 'let things slip'

As it happens I wasn’t in the company of anyone with ‘limited mobility’ and I agree there are more fundamental issues.
It was just an observation, especially as we’d been listening to a discussion on the increasing cost of living at a time of huge - and imo unacceptable- supermarket profits, on the way to Nottingham.
As another example there’s a particular wine I’m fond of. Costs nearly 12.00 GBP in Majestic and just under 3 Euros in any Mercadonna. Why?
Petrol more expensive in Spain (not diesel!) Just about everything else…cheaper.

[SithHappens]

I don't know but would guess uk cars per square mile us higher than a lot of other countries

Of course parking charges in town centres are short sighted but those who run councils don't seem to have the intellect to understand it deters shoppers etc.

On thr subject of parking, why did they shut the cockpit car park in derby? It must be 3 years now and nothing ever done with it.

[Andy_Faber]

why did they shut the cockpit car park in derby? It must be 3 years now and nothing ever done with it.

The operators deemed it uneconomical to keep it open as it wasn't generating enough revenue to cover ongoing costs and make a profit. A white elephant basically and probably IMO unuseable as anything else

[Andy_Faber]

As it happens I wasn’t in the company of anyone with ‘limited mobility’ and I agree there are more fundamental issues.
It was just an observation, especially as we’d been listening to a discussion on the increasing cost of living at a time of huge - and imo unacceptable- supermarket profits, on the way to Nottingham.
As another example there’s a particular wine I’m fond of. Costs nearly 12.00 GBP in Majestic and just under 3 Euros in any Mercadonna. Why?
Petrol more expensive in Spain (not diesel!) Just about everything else…cheaper.

I know from living in Spain (briefly) and because my eldest daughter still does that almost everything?s cheaper, we?ve found the same in Greece over the last month.

[MadAmster]

Here in NL, we pay more for "stuff", food, drink, parking, petrol etc ad infinitum than they do in Germany or Belgium.

It seems the higher prices are not down to just one cause. They say wages for comparable jobs are higher here than in G or B. Taxes are higher too. As well as VAT on new cars, we also have a tax called BPM (Belasting van Personenauto's en Motorfietsen). The level of BPM is determined by the levels of the vehicle's CO2 emissions. There's the price of the car, then the BPM and then VAT over both. Yes, tax on tax (also happens with gas and electricity where there's an energy tax and you get to pay VAT on it...). There's also this Dutch trait of loving deals. BOGOF deals. Buy x amount and get y amount free. Supermarkets charge, as standard, high prices to pay for the deals. Personally, I'd rather have permanent lower prices than raised prices to fund deals.

[SithHappens]

BOGOF deals banned now in UK for certain foodstuffs. Aimed at tackling obesity.

Also banned fast food ads etc before 9pm

Nanny state really. People should be able to buy responsibly and just because they got 2 chocolate bars for 1 doesn't mean they need to war both straight away.

Also banned free refills of 'unhealthy ' drinks too.

[MadAmster]

They should ban those energy drinks and vapes. Experts over here are saying vapes are more dangerous than cigarettes. Why oh why do governments allow things onto the market only to find out too late that the products are killers?

[SithHappens]

Hate vapes, don't get how people do it having never smoked, was surely supposed to be a step towards non smoking

Don't know on energy drinks, isn't the danger drinking too many?

If so make them age restricted maybe?

But I don't get with any of it why people can't just be responsible for what they and their families consume?

If Maccy Ds advertise before 9 so what, just tell the little cherubs they can't have one..

I enjoy a Maccy Ds myself but understand the consequences if I have them too often.

[Geoff Parkstone]

The problem with total freedom of choice, Sith, is the pressure placed on the NHS - see smoking, obesity and to a lesser degree alcoholism and drug abuse. Now a sensible government (of whatever hue because none did it) would have imposed a levy on the "bad products" and stored it away for tomorrows high demand for medical consequences. But of course "we didnt know" is the plea. *******s you didnt.

As for McD we will have to agree to differ. Disgusting ****e that should have stayed in San Diego. Zero tolerance required - Id sooner smerk a tab mesself and I havent done that for many a year