Parking at Mr Pound- Girne

[Marions]

Agreed RR. No one HAS to read anything, but if the 'anything' is rude, offensive or an attack on any individual or business then we mods close it. As far as I am aware, those are the only ones we close.
This is an interesting discussion (which no one is forced to join) on, as you rightly say, the way this island is going. Many people came here years ago because of the more simple, open, caring and friendly lifestyle. And they found they could live on a small income happily. they did not ask for more. Now it is being demanded of them.

It happened in the south and it is happening here, but sometimes there are ways of halting a progress that causes too much pain .

and before anyone says 'But it is only 3tl!' , it all depends on income doesn't it. If a family is trying to surviveon the minimum wage of the husband (or one earner) that 3tl is as large sum of money to be taken out of housekeeping money for foods etc.. Brits who come here with investments and property donot feel the same pinch on their pockets.

so, I am not going to close this thread, and I don't think anyone will unless it becomes abusive. But if anyone tries that as a way of getting it closed, we can of course, merely delete the abusive posting and keep it going! How wonderful it is to have power. Wish I had the power to abolish the car parking charge behind the complex in which mr Poundd's is housed. Ho hum

[elizabeth]

Well this post has been a real eye opener to me, at times I have completely lost the point some people tried to make, for instance I fail to see how it,s an attack on the less able amongst us, quite the opposite really, I would have thought anyone with reduced mobility would welcome a smooth, even surface.
As I see it the landowner has at his own expense improved the surface of the car park, so instead of it being a dust bowl in the summer and a mud bath in the winter it is now a proper car park. Obviously the landowner has to recover some of that money, hence the parking charge, if people don,t wish to pay the charge they can always park elsewhere and make their way to the shop.
I doubt very much if this parking charge will have a negative effect on the trade at Mr. Pound, it.s not a shop that you would visit every day, like a supermarket for instance, so maybe it,s time to put up or shut up on this subject.

[Rambling Rose]

Elizabeth: We are at cross purposes: I am not objecting to paving the carpark - in fact I would welcome it for myself for the reasons you give, except that it is a bit pointless if the access road is still - inaccessible (sometimes difficult by car, let alone on foot)

What I object to is comments like your: "people can always park elsewhere and make their way to the shop" which totally ignores the fact that that is exactly what some people cant do. And quite often, because of the extra expenses involved by their disability and/or their inability to work (and I am NOT talking about myself here I am retired and my work was mainly sedantary anyway) they are the very people who find 3TL hard the find. And I am disgusted by the fact that so many people who could probably quite easily afford 3TL (as I said earlier I can usually save more than that out of slective buying and petrol and car overheads) but object to something that makes life easier for others. I wonder how many of them drive the large , heavy exepensive vehicles that probably contriute to churning up the surfaces in the first place, and make larger and better carparks necessary but arent prepared to contribute to the resultant expences.

[Rambling Rose]

Marion: "All that is needed for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing"

Sometimes NOT closing a process causes too much pain. Sometimes the process cant be closed, but by people with goodwill and who are not motivated for purely selfish and selfagrandisement reasons, it can be nudged into a slightly different less destructive direction .

[sophie]

CAN WE PLEASE PUT AN END TO THIS, NOW BORING, SUBJECT. The land is owned by the Butcher next door to Mr Pound, and, as he says in todays C2D, he has spent money on tarmac and marking out AND HE CAN DO WHAT HE LIKES WITH IT. Surely that's the end of the matter, PLEASE!!!

[carolhm]

Just sounds like 2 women having a conversation between themselves really .
I agree its now boring , only kept checking to see if there was anything new being said , but no , just them chatting.
Sorry ladies , but that's how this post reads now

[Owl Lady]

Who said they were two ladies?????

[ozonkoyboy]

Wow and all this for a parking can

[ozonkoyboy]

Wow and all this for Parking can I just say let your feet do the talking
Probably been mentioned before but to many replies to look through
I agree wih RR should be closed now, enough is enough

[Marions]

then stop posting and stop reading and it will fall off the page! But obviously a subject that has been worth discussing, even if it has gone round and around.

[Rambling Rose]

Excuse me: I must be missing the point.

Is this:

(a) A thread on a board where any member who obeys the rules can put and expand on his/her point of iview as often as they feel the need, and discuss it with anyone they like - and those who dont like it are not forced to read it?

(b) A game of "bully the mod" (and anyone else in range) conducted according to the rules of the Fourth Form of St. Trinians?

(c) Infiltration by a secret scoiety dedicated to stifling free speech by shouting down anything they dont understand or which threatens their complacency?

(d) A competition for who can be most offensive without actually breaking the rules and getting banned?

(e) A competition for who can find the shift key first?


Ozankoyboy: I dont think you can have read the thread. I did not say it should be closed - I voted for it beingkept open, if only because a lot of it is supposition and we might actually some time get some actual facts to work on. And now I feel like shouting and more: can no one understand that a lot of less fortunate people CANNOT walk still less "talk with their feet!

[Marions]

Said with style RR.!

I remember at a school in Limassol where I taught, on the path it said '~Walk with happy feet' - but that was for 5 year olds. Unfortunatley, as you say, somepeople cannot walk!

and yes, these threads are for anyone to post (no abuse allowed, nor bullying), and I for one thoroughly enjoy the different 'colours' of viewpoints that are expressed.

10 out of 10, RR for observation consideration and understanding.(not being patronising, but just commenting)

[pipie]

And all these with mobility problems are claiming Disability Living Allowance from the UK,I know of 3 people on Turtle Bay who are claiming it,only disabled when it suits them.

[deputydawg]

Surely TRNC are following what occurs in Europe and, increasingly paying to park will become the norm ? For perspective, West Suffolk Hospital is £3.30 minimum charge for 2 hours and an hour can be spent after buying the ticket trying to find a parking space. Papworth hospital also expensive and Addenbrookes Hospital over £30 per day, allegedly the costliest in UK. I tried town parking within 300 yards of a bank. £1 for 90 mins. Machine had a notice "out of order, use other machine" There wasn't one. Walked to another car park in pouring rain, queued, then found it had a keyboard to enter registration number (to stop transfer of partly used ticket to others). Walked back to my car to look at registration number then returned to the queue but forgot the number when involved in conversation. Keyed in the number of the car nearest to me (well it was still p.....g with rain) and ran to the bank. Noted on the ticket "refund paid if you shop at the store" It did not state which store ! As I returned to my car, soaked to the skin, I stopped at the ticket machine and keyed in "which store you plonkers ?" I felt better for that though I subsequently found out it is a minimum spend of £10 to get a parking ticket refund. Things are improving as I have now committed to memory at least half of my car registration number ie the UCG part. I remember and accept that I am "Ugly Clueless Git". Please smile when you pay 4TL to park in TRNC. I wish I still had the opportunity to park there

[kiplet]

Sophie
Could you tell me what is C2D please ?
Cheers

[Soner]

Well said DD, but I personally prefer not to pay for any Parking in TRNC, if there was a population of over 2 million then I would accept.

What I wonder is, if the owner of the land is the butcher, has his business been affected in any way? Maybe the convenient parking has improved his business? Customers would spend more than a Fiver there, for sure, so 4tl is nothing, or maybe it is free to his customers.

All I can say is if you do not like it do not use it. Find somewhere else to shop. If it has affected any businesses in a bad way, then that is life and they will need to deal with it and move on.

Not long now before multi-storey car parks are built in Girne.

[flowerfairy]

Kiplet, C2D = Cyprus today. The newspaper.
Unfortunately I didn't get out to buy one yesterday, so I haven't read the article on Mr Pound.

All I can say is that if I had bought a piece of land at the rear of my shop and found that people were
parking there all day and taking up spaces that were for my customers, then paid out to have it re surfaced,
I would charge for parking. ( I'm sure you would too Soner, if you're customers in your new cafe couldn't find
anywhere to park), but the car park was full of commuters using your land.

What comes to my mind is the price you pay to go to the ''loo'' in UK. I've paid £1, just to have a pee.

As for being disbled, I understand the problems, as my Hubby was in a wheelchair for quite a time. I must
admit that everywhere we went, there was always someone that helped me if I was unable to negotiate
a situation. But there again, my glass is always half full.

Marion, good for you for not closing this thread. I read this board every morning, I call it my newspaper,
I know, sad person, hahahah. I've found it to be a bit of an eye opener after reading some of the comments.
I've noticed recently that quite a few posters have demanded threads to be closed once they are bored or have
made their point. As you stated, don't reply and it will go off the page.
Oopps, I just did, Oh well, off we go again, but I do like a good debate.
Have a nice day,

[Soner]

Totally agree flowerfairy, it is his land and he can do as he wishes, but I stand my ground and say that I personally would not use it. This is why I prefer to live in Gecitkale, away from the so called "Progress".

So we now have to "spend a Pound" rather than "spend a penny"


Sorry: (mods please don't ban me)

[Marions]

O.K. Boss, we don't ban people for honesty if it is witty and non abusive - so as you don't use swear words and don't tell us we are all **** **** **** or whatever that means, soyou stay. And I guess that is kinda important as you own the site.

Seriously, if it IS the butcher that owns the site where the shops are situated, then one can appreciate it is his land, but I never found any problem in parking there, and I don't for a moment think they are 'commuters' they seem to be people who work in the shops ()all of them), maybe visiting the gym which is above somewhere there, or shopping at Mr Pound. And I still maintain that many shops are now built with a frontage so that people can park and shop - I guess youwould call it a 'service' (naughty word that!)

And thanks FF for being such a fan of KibKom. It is very encouraging to Soner to know that what he created is loved and serves a very useful purpose in people's lives.

By the way, I am old fahsioned enough to wish that things stayed the same and owuld dearly love to live somewhere like gecitkale or the Karpaz, but my current situaiton would not allow it. One of the reasons I came here was to escape 'progress' and 'greed'. There was no need for the man to have that site tarmacked. It was part of the local charm. Ruined your tyres of course, but what the heck.

[Soner]

But Marion, it is his land. If it were my land I definitely would not like it if people were using it for free parking. I would have fenced it off or did the same.

[kiplet]

Thank you flower fairy.

[Marions]

Not sure if you are picturing it correctly Soner. There are many shops along that stretch, including Telsim, mainly three shops in a row, with side access to the rear which is for deliveries, staff parking and customers, because the pavement is too narrow in most of these 'blocks'. Obviouisly osmeone owns the land in all cases, but most of the time one has no idea who. In this instance, it would appear that this block and the land at the back is owned by the butcher. The parking on 'his' land is no different to that of any of the shops along that stretchof road. The only difference is that on the other side, the pavements are deeper and there is space for cars to park in front of the shops they are visiting.

So, the butcher and this parking charge is a one off along the entire stretchof road. trouble is now, it will mean that the other land owners will have more peopleparking at the back of the shops they own as people avoid paying out for parking behind Mr Pound and the butchers and I think there is another shop. Even I can't remember.

quite understand you would want your land to work for you, but no other businesses are doing that, none at all. gorrit!

[Rambling Rose]

"By the way, I am old fahsioned enough to wish that things stayed the same and owuld dearly love to live somewhere like gecitkale or the Karpaz, but my current situaiton would not allow it. One of the reasons I came here was to escape 'progress' and 'greed'. There was no need for the man to have that site tarmacked. It was part of the local charm. Ruined your tyres of course, but what the heck."

Marion: I would have heartily seconded your sentiments above but for the last sentence - "local charm" can be sretched that tad too far, and a surface that is dangerous for some people - OK if people here dont care about the elderly (though some of them must be) or disabled - not very nice for young children either, particularly in wet weather. Also I think the area is used for offloading goods - do you want them after they have been dropped in the mud? And maybe the extra weight and volume of traffic was causing deterioration of some sort of sub strata.(certainly the surfacing of the access road)

DD I take your point , but just because the UK jumps off a cliff, does it mean the TRNC has to folllow? There are too many examples of just that already.

FF Not only must your glass be half full but your arms must be strong. I spent a lot of time (when I was younger and stronger myself) wheeling a wheelchair and I wouldnt have found it easy to negotiate that carpark. Yes, somepeople can be surprising helpful but other arent (incosniderate parking for example) and whilst it seemed to be part of the Cypriot tradition to help it is another thing that seems to be declining. And what about independence for the disabled _and their helpers.

[Rambling Rose]

OK I have decided what this is, it is a detective story.

What is the true identity of the wicked landlord?

Do you have the key to the secret of the mystery lease? Could you have written it better?

Did the Butler (sorry I mean Butcher) do it?

Where does the suspicious attendant go after hours?

Who moved the planters on the pavement?

Who are the ruthless masked raiders who are now to be seen prowling Kyrenia, seeking free parking spaces they can devour, is it a clue that they seem to be speaking English?

Dont miss our next exciting episode. On second thoughts, do ............Please, pretty, please...... if this whole thing bores you and you cant resist the impulse to say so!

PS Has anyone thought that if everyone going to Mr. Pound parks in front of the shops across the road, it wont be long before those shops start complaining and whatever owns that land slaps a parking fee on.

[teg17]

OK, I've decided what this is.
Its a lot of "Rambling".

[Marions]

n the nicest possible way, of course!? The sad thing is that Rambling Rose, cannot ramble much anymore and so life is not as Rosey as it might be! But you have to admit she is witty and I just LERV the bit about the mystery, but no doubt as with all mystery it will soon be history - but, what, one wonders, will be the long term.

will Mr Pound get his tuppence out of the situation, and will the public at large get more 'kouriosh' with each parking comment.

[teg17]

Of course yes, no offence intended.

[Marions]

I did not see any offence in your posting. But I was earlier accused of posting a bit too much, so maybe I am Rambling 2, but certainly no 'rose' .

[Rambling Rose]

Actually I am a little old fashioned too, and I was taught it was bad manners and a sign of ............well perhaps I shouldnt say it...........to make personal comments , and I think that should apply to forums too - as opposed to reasonable disagreement with points of view. Anyway I find it increasingly difficult to believe that people can seriousl make some of the comments here so Ill leave you to it. Perhaps some of those who are bored with the thread and fed up with me should think about starting a new thread with helpful and intelligent - or at least vaguely funny - observations

[flowerfairy]

Marion, I don't think you've quite got the point...every other shop, staff/customers (in the parade) are parking on the butchers piece of land.
If it were your land would you allow it for free?

[Marions]

Yes I would, as part of the facilities my tenants would be renting. with several shops and all with rear entrances onto the ground where deliveries are made etc, and where there are generators. I would not hesitate to accept this was part of what I offered. If I felt I was not charging enough rent, then I might negotiate for something higher, but I would also take into account that all the surrounding blocks were the same and with rear access (or frontage) for parking for customers - who are, after all, kinda important to trade!

[corona24]

Copied from a previous reaction: wow, all this about the parking at MR pound.
Honestly I haven't gone since before the thread because I didn't have the need. Yesterday I went and was told we first 15 minutes is free.... Since I don't want to spend a lot of money and just get what I needed, it was fine. However, other times, especially before, I like to go in and browse around. I like to take my time and check things out if I need something that I forgot, or would like to have; And that would definitely take up more than 15 minutes. The paved parking does look nice and organized, finally. However, as I mentioned before, multi-leveled parking building(s). MULTI-LEVELED PARKING BUILDING(S)!!!!!!!!!!! Why is it a concept the Turks (I am not sure of other countries except USA) cannot grasp? Or why have so many shops in 1 area but NO parking spaces sufficient enough???? why is there a lack of consideration in the respect of the elderly, handicap, disabled, etc???? Park far to have to walk far to get something almost minor and with so much difficulty? and something that could take just 5 minutes turns out to be almost an hour. Oh and the space that is available is on the sidewalk... So I am walking with my toddler in his stroller and I have to go around the stupid, car or truck - vehicle! To do that I have to get off the sidewalk into coming on traffic and then around and back on the stroller. Now people who know about strollers know that its a hassle to do that, the dropping and lifting of a stroller with a heavy toddler and trying to be quick about it= DIFFICULT!. ....
SIGH anyways that is my thinking... for now.

[Jonnie]

Yes I would, as part of the facilities my tenants would be renting. with several shops and all with rear entrances onto the ground where deliveries are made etc, and where there are generators. I would not hesitate to accept this was part of what I offered. If I felt I was not charging enough rent, then I might negotiate for something higher, but I would also take into account that all the surrounding blocks were the same and with rear access (or frontage) for parking for customers - who are, after all, kinda important to trade!

My point all along as that any prospective tenant should secure what he requires for his business. ie if he feels he needs "ample" parking he should rent such a place and not expect to use someone else's indefinitely. The owner of that land is not the bad guy here.

[rigsby]

Blimey,There was not this much fuss when Ercan started charging for parking.

[sophie]

Hello Rigsby, believe me you ain't seen nuttin yet!!

[Halffull]

Just to add my tuppence, I didn't bother reading all the replies, but it is a typical case of people taking something for granted.
The car park used by shoppers at Mr Pound didn't belong to the shop and it was only when the land owner finally got his act together and realised what a goldmine he had been sitting on that he developed it and started charging for people parking on his land, which had nothing to do with Mr Pound.
So just because we have been able to park for free up til now on his land, we get up in arms when he finally decides to collect his dues

[Rambling Rose]

The trouble with this thread people are forming opinions without knowing the facts. We dont know the terms of the Lease. Another thing occurred to me:

I am a bit vague and very rusty on the laws relating to easements but:

if the landowner is allowing the general public right of way to access and park on his land without payment or any form of agreement , eventually a public right of use and certainly a right of way will be established. If in future the shops move out and the area is redeveloped loads of problems will arise for everyone - particularly the landowner wo may be unable to use, sell or lease it. Similar situations have happened inthe UK and could here as the value of land increases. Maybe charging for parking is the best, or even only, way he can secure his right of ownership and we should be grateful he is at least improving it. Just hope and pray he will help the less active by also improving the access road,and not further disadvantage them further by making charging dependant on how fast they can run up the road and round the shop.

[Whatarotty]

I have not read all replies and apologies if I am repeating what may have been said already but these are my thoughts. I go about once a month to by dog treats and have a good look around and normally spend about 40 TL. My problem has always been with the car park and walkway to the shop, the number of times I have been blocked in due to inconsiderate drivers not looking where they park, I have driven out due to no spaces left and the side walk to the shop was an accident waiting to happen. The fact that it is one way has stopped the traffic backing up on the main road, the sidewalk is so much better although a pavement alongside the grid should have been put in, instead of having to step over them, could be dangerous for some people. Parking bays are wide and plentiful and I have not been blocked in, yet! I'm happy, I will pay my 3 tl and feel comfortable that my mother is not going to fall down any potholes when I take her and I can now park my car and exit safely.........that to me is well worth 3tl for peace of mind!