Parking at Mr Pound- Girne

[crofter]

"Is that dreadful television screen on a pole still in the square?"

I believe that screen is at the bottom of the main road from Lefkosia - to help you run into the back of the vehicle in front of you.

[Jonnie]

I think the long and the short of this is that when acquiring the shop "Mr Pound" did not think about parking and assumed he would be able to use someone else's land "gratis". Perhaps he was short sighted. Now he has not got free access perhaps his business will drop off to the level of a shop with no parking, which is what it is really.

[Deniz1]

You are right crofter is on the left corner of the roundabout.

[Marions]

That sounds a little unfair Johnnie. It applies to all the shops, and originally it was possible to park outside the front of these shops, plus no doubt the landlord told them to use the back , which is a rear entrance to their businesses. So I don't think Mr Pound was the one at fault - but the landlord for changing tactics which is obviously affecting allthe businesses. The others are not referred to, probably because Mr Pound is the one most used by the Brits. Must be really tough for all of them.

[Rambling Rose]

Does anyone remember when Mr. Pound first set up shop? Because it was not so long ago when parking was generally easier, and it is unreasonable to expect Mr. Pound , the landlord or even the authorities to foresee the demands that would be made by the rapid increase in the number of cars in the country, let alone the increase in size and weight of the average car.

Rather than keep blaming people why not try to think of a solution. I cant see that Mr. Pound is the sort of shop or location where most sensible people would "pop in" for a single item (unless the are long distance walkers or live nearby in which case parking would not bother them). Its not like a town centre where you would pass it on route to other shops, or a grocers where you might go if you ran out of essentials, like bread andmilk.

Refunding on a time basis is not only unfair but does not make economic sense. They wont last long on the income from lTL per person! (4 less 3 equals l).

If the access road and lighting were improved and they stick to an attendant, rather than those time wasting ticket turnstyles that are always breaking down, why not instead offer refunds for purchasers over , for instance 20 TL. And offer free parking on Sundays and after, say 6pm, which would relieve traffic congestion in the area.

[Rambling Rose]

Apologies for duplication. Its this weird thing that tells me there is another post - then when I click send (to avoid losing a post) it sends a duplcicate of mine.

[Jonnie]

That sounds a little unfair Johnnie. It applies to all the shops, and originally it was possible to park outside the front of these shops, plus no doubt the landlord told them to use the back , which is a rear entrance to their businesses. So I don't think Mr Pound was the one at fault - but the landlord for changing tactics which is obviously affecting allthe businesses. The others are not referred to, probably because Mr Pound is the one most used by the Brits. Must be really tough for all of them.

The tenant should have some form of lease which details what if any parking he has, a shop with say 15 spaces would command more rent than one with none. Clearly he has no arrangement in his lease, if the car park is not his why should his customers have access to it for free? The ground is clearly not the tenants and may even be owned by a person unconnected to the building. The norm with small units like this is it will probably come with one or two spaces and that will be written in the lease. To expect to have free reign over the entire area without having a contract is simply short-sighted. As for "no doubt the landlord told them etc" that is an assumption surely?

If the tenant has no right of parking you are effectively parking on someone else's land and why should they let you do that. If Mr Pound had forseen the need for parking he should have secured it when he rented the building, it would appear he did not that is down to him and him alone and if anything he should be grateful for having benefit from it for so long without charge.

[flowerfairy]

Oh dear Jonnie, I think you have your ''English'' head on.
I can only assume that as with the laws over here, the leases are not quite as efficiently written as in UK.
Fortunately, I have no experience in this matter.
Hopefully the problem will be resumed, if not, it's pay up, or don't.
I hope they do solve this issue as the staff in Mr Pound are really helpfull and friendly, it would be a shame to
see them go down the pan.

[Deniz1]

Most shops are on a yearly rental contract not a lease as in the UK.The surrounding ground areas are not normally included in the rental only at the discretion of the landlord.

[pipie]

How hard is it to park across the road at Starling for free and walk 5 yards?

[muffin]

Ever tried crossing the dual carriageway - you take your life in your hands to do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Marions]

Ye,s Johnnie, things here are quite different, and quite often businesses are on a six month rental agreement only. None of us know the arrangement that Mr Pound and the other shops hav,e nor what was said (often renaged upon out here anyway) but I think may people are sad that parking has become more difficult.
As to parking outside Starlings - is that fair>? They want the space for their customers, and the same goes for all the other shop fronts in the area. Yes, I sometimes park there to cross over to, say, pay my phone bill at telsim, but it does need the proprietors of the other shops to be understanding.

I jut hope it does get resolved,. because it is obviously causing a lot of hurt to a lot of people. what was, is no longer, but one can only hope that what will be is a solution.

[elizabeth]

As I see it there are several choices to the issue of parking at Mr. Pound, people can either park over the road and risk life and limb crossing the dual carriageway, park in a side street and walk to the store or pay what amounts to just over £1 to park behind the store and not be restricted to any time limit.
For myself, as I only visit the store maybe once or twice a month I,m happy to pay the parking fee but each to their own I suppose.

[sophie]

Unless the tickets have changed since the initial opening, I beleive there was a time limit of 2 hours. obviously if you're only going into Mr P for a few bits and pieces then fine, but if you were planning to do more shopping/banking/eating of whatever then 2 hours would go quickly. I don't know what the amount payable was after 2 hours and of course things could have changed now because of all the comment and feedback Mr.P must be getting.

[Jonnie]

Oh dear Jonnie, I think you have your ''English'' head on.
I can only assume that as with the laws over here, the leases are not quite as efficiently written as in UK.
Fortunately, I have no experience in this matter.
Hopefully the problem will be resumed, if not, it's pay up, or don't.
I hope they do solve this issue as the staff in Mr Pound are really helpfull and friendly, it would be a shame to
see them go down the pan.

How rude! You make a comment like that then claim that you can only assume and you have no experience in the matter! I know of 2 people who have rented small units and one who freeholds. I also looked in to it for myself. Firstly if I was going to go to the expense of shop fitting I would not dream of a 6 or 12 month lease, it would be plain stupid.

Secondly it is clear that this land does not belong to Mr Pound so why they or any customers should claim entitlement to use it is beyond me.

Thirdly advocating parking at Starling is another liberty.

Simple, park in the public car park and walk. Why should the owner of said land grant free car parking to all and sundry?

[Marions]

flower Fairy wa snot being rude, she was assuming, Johnnie that you live in U.K and look on this place as having U.K. type rules. I agree with you that it is supid to sign a 6 or 12 month agreement, but people do, because they cnanot afford to do otherwise. Then thepoor devils go bust and have to pay to remove the shp fittings they paid for. I know of two people like that, who reallybelievedthey would be successful.
As to parking in the public car park, that is the problem, there is not one on that road - just this one at the back of the shops. It is interesting that all these shops have rear access to their offices, and so no doubt they parked staff cars there and delivery lorries went round there too. So it is quite understandable that it was used for parking, as is the back of other adjacent blocks. There are many along there where the rear is used for access to the offices and shops and where staff and visiting customers park. so I am sure you can see why this particular car park which is the only one along the street for which one is supposed to pay, has caused such an uproar. And of course, it is behind a shop that sells the cheapest merchandise.

[pipie]

Ever tried crossing the dual carriageway - you take your life in your hands to do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have you ever tried using the zebra crossing that's there?

[Marions]

you mean the faded black and white thing in the road put there specifically for motorists to ignore. ? well, yes I have and I thank the good Lord every time i do that I am able to run!!!!!

[Royalcorpsoftranspor]

I think that this particular post has run it's course now. you are not going to change anything.

[flowerfairy]

before they decide to close this thread, as Marion stated, (thank you Marion), I did not mean any malice
whatsoever. My life is too important to want to try and upset anyone on such a minor issue. When I say minor,
I mean, there is nothing that I can to to resolve the problem, and certainly upsetting anyone helps no one.
I was just trying to make a point about the different laws.
If the only thing that I had to worry about was parking at Mr Pound, well.................?????????

[Marions]

I thin this has been an interesting thread because it has shown public thinking, which might or might not be interesting tot ehowner of the block where Mr Pound is. I wonder if anyone has anything else to add, or I wonder whether it is worth showing all this to the owner of the site, via Mr Pound himself. Maybe he will realise that what he has done has upset some folk - all of whom no doubt are struggling to make ends meet, and many of whom enjoy the free parking at the back of all the other blocks????????

As Flower Fairy says - if only this was the only problem to solve! But it really isn't progres,s is it?

Maybe this has run its thread, in which case we will lock it, but if it has, it will equally disappear from the top of the pages, so in one sense there is no need to close, it will close itself. on the other hand if people still have valuable comments, then it will stay at the top. It is over to Kibkomers on this one.

[sophie]

I also think this subject has run its course. The fact is (1) there was a free carpark and now there isn't (2) the owners are not suddenly going to change their minds after going to the expense of covering with tarmac and marking out (3) Mr P appears to be just a busy (at least they have been on two occasions this week (4) Mr P has blocked off the front of their own shop with heavy flower tubs (5) in a few weeks, or with some people a few months, we shall have forgotten about the free carpark and just carry on. The subject is beginning to go off track in any case.

[Rambling Rose]

Sophie says Mr. Pound blocked the front, Marion says earlier it was the Belediye . Do either or you know for sure! Not that it made that much difference as even if there was a space it was soon blocked, but its better to work from fact rather than conjecture.

I do wish that there was even one person who who had the decency to remember that there are some people who just can t run across busy roads - with or without the benefit of phantom pedestrian crossings and they are the ones who are suffering most from the so called progress of recent years. Talk about "I"m alright Jack"

Also from the few times I have been able to go there, there are more Cypriot customers than expats - anyone heard their "take" on the subect?

[elizabeth]

Sophie says Mr. Pound blocked the front, Marion says earlier it was the Belediye . Do either or you know for sure! Not that it made that much difference as even if there was a space it was soon blocked, but its better to work from fact rather than conjecture.

I do wish that there was even one person who who had the decency to remember that there are some people who just can t run across busy roads - with or without the benefit of phantom pedestrian crossings and they are the ones who are suffering most from the so called progress of recent years. Talk about "I"m alright Jack"

Also from the few times I have been able to go there, there are more Cypriot customers than expats - anyone heard their "take" on the subect?

We can,t stop progress, nor can we please all of the people all of the time

[Marions]

Hey, RR, of COURSE we understand. don't forget I am married to a man with less mobility than you, so just to be selfish for a moment, it is a *** nuisance to me about Mr Pound. Normally I drop Alan as near to any door as I can and then go and park. to drop alan in front of the shop means I then have to go on and possibly even go round the roundabout to find somewhere topark, which as I said before, could wlel be in front of someone else's business, which is hardly fair. But I can always park at the back of the other blocks but that is often more difficult because once I drop Alan off I have to do a fantastic couple of u turns on a road that does not allow and right turns. so I DO appreciate how difficult it is for the less mobile. It was me that doesn't like running over the road, and Alan CAN'T!
I don't call it progress when the handicapped are not considered! a bit of thoughtfulness goes a long way for all of us. There are not even proper handicapped parking places in most parking lots, and in fact I am in the process of trying to get a lot of lovely pictures just to show how user friendly the pavements are!
None of that helps the discussion, but yes manyof us are aware and DO sympathise. And I owuld love to ask the locals what they think, but probably few are Kibkomers. any ideas?

[Rambling Rose]

Yes Marion, I wasnt entirely thinking of myself (as I said my problems are comparatively minor, but still bad enough the affect my quality of life if others are selfish and it does make me more aware of those worse off) and Alan was among those in my thoughts . And I am also very sympathetic to your problems.

I spent a lot of time driving a seriously disabled family member in the UK and later an elderly and frail friend both here and the UK and dropping them off at convenient places was a nightmare in both places , even with a UK disabled badge.

Nor is it just the permanently disabled and elderly, normally healthy people can break limbs, and I remember a meeting here several years back where the disabled were joined in greater numbers by young mothers (mostly Turkish Cypriot) with prams, pushchairs and/or toddlers in complaining about the lack/state of pavements in Girne.

The trouble with allocated spaces for disabled drivers is that (a) they would be treated withthe same respect as pedestrian crossings! and (b) it needs a register of disabled drivers to go with it. otherwise it would be abused - I wont go ot by describing the problems and anomolies of the scheme in the UK but frankly I think Northern Cyprus is not yet ready for it . A lot of Cypriots would, in fact, feel insulted if they needed a law to compel them to give considerate treatment to the less able (they were a lot more helpful than the average Brit when my friends mentioned above was visiting).

Flower Fairy is right when she suggests those whose only problem is a 3TL parking fee for one shop are very lucky - but sadly I feel it is important because it is the tip of an iceberg.

And I would still like to know if the access road and lighting has been improved, because without them surfacing the carpark is really only window dressing.

[Rambling Rose]

And why should people like Alan have to be left in the car (well maybe Alan manlike doesnt particuarly enjoy that kind of shopping, sorry dont meant to be personal) he is entitled to a choice or even those like myself who are fortunate enough to still be able to drive and walk short distances be restricted. Progress will be when we are able to live "normal" lives like the "normal" people we are.

[Marions]

thanks rose. Alan does actually like to come in the shps sometimes, and he enjoys Mr Pound (morethan ladies dress shops!!!!) . And then there are people such as Tony woods, who has had his life turned aorund in terms of activity, and many others wo have come here infull health , plus of ocurse locals in maybe worse circumstances. I was friends of a lady who was a polio victim and she had a car and a wheelchair and I was her 'pusher' (th e only decent way of calling myself a pusher and not be connected with drugs) and we went to places such as the Festival Hall etc. It wasnot to bad, as people then were kindly even though the disabled were not treated as well as today. A few decades on has made allthe difference in U.K, but here, as you say, we have a way to go. Also I agree that it is in a wayoffensive to make a law to make people behave with consideration.

I am always amused when I ask why pavements are being built around here, and I am told it is so that I could push my baby in a pram I(Obviously they are official swith bad eye sight) but apart from the fact that I am not likely topush a babyin a pram, although I might have ot push Alan in a wheelchair, the pavements are not user friendly one bit.

sorry if this seem s off topic, but it isn't really, it is just another sign of the inconvenience of progress. still think the car park should be free and the landlord shouldinclude it as part of the rental so that these shops can have customers. I heard today of someone giving up their business who must have paid about £80l000 rent over the years and not one penny of that has been ploughed back into the premises. Hmmmm

[Jonnie]

This is not an attack on those less able.

The point is the ground does not belong to the shop, for all we know it may not be connected to the shop and be owned by someone completely different. It is up to the business owner when he plans his business to assess who is going to come and how they are going to get there. If the owner had wanted a premises with a car park he should have rented one, he would have had to pay a bigger rent for the extra space so perhaps he was happy with the deal he had.


Marion, I am not sure about where you are going or where you are talking about with your 80,000 in rent paragraph but on commercial leases here and elsewhere the tenant is responsible for the upkeep of the building including repairs, this is different from domestic rentals.

[Rambling Rose]

Ifyou think about it Jonnie it is an attack on the less able - it is people demanding the lifestyle to which they would like to be accustomed (free parking and all) regardless of the effect it has on others. As Marion so rightly points out there are those who came here perfectly fit and healthy made a home and lifestyle for themselves and became useful and caring members of the community, only to be struck down by accident, illness or just age. If people cannot find a drop of compassion for others at least they should reflect on the fact it could so easily happen to them!

As for the rest you are still thinking British Johnnie - it doesnt happen like that here. The laws are far less sophisticated because they have been denied the time and opportunity to develop them, and in any case the nature of the population has changed so fast in the past few years, that any business plan developed whenMr. Pound started would be totally out of date by now.

As anywhere else there are rapacious landlords and there are landlords struggling to upkeep a propery (or land) which they relies on to support a family in the light of rising prices.and demanding tenants hard pressed by demanding customers. And there are hard working, responsible tenants, and there are those only out to make a quick buck at the expense of naive landlords AND customers. We dont know (and are unlikely to be told) which applies here and it is selfish and arrogant to start throwing blame around just because we have to add 3TL to our weekly shopping bill.

There are much more serious implications of this - and other manifestations of so called "progress" - for those who have made their home here and care about the country and the welfare of others.

I havent been able to get to Girne (let alone Mr. Pound) recently. I wonder what state the carpark and access road is in after the recent weather, and what state the carpark would have beenin if it had not been surfaced.

[Jonnie]

Roze, nothing to do with thinking "British" it is a fact. If you do not believe me I suggest you have a look at a business unit in Girne, phone them up and ask them what sort of contract you get or speak to and agent or an advocate. It is nothing to do with time to develop laws, sure we do not have Disability Discrimination Act etc that there is in the UK and sure business leases are generally shorter but the contracts and agreements exist. Sure there are landlords and tenants who may chose to do things on a nod and a handshake but cutting corners always ends in tears.

At the end of the day what would appear to be the case here is that \"Mr Pound" be he a tenant or shop owner appears not to have had some sort of contract on the land behind the shop people used as a car park. The person who appears to have control has decided to make a small charge for people to "occupy" that land for short periods, and why shouldn't he? He should be entitled to a return on land in a town centre that probably has a high value. He may be Mr Ps landlord, he may not, it may even be Mr p himself pulling a sneaky one?

I have no objection to paying the 3tl however I am more likely to stop at starling, shop there and ask for their permission to leave my car in their car park whilst I visit the shop over the road, I shall of course respect their answer.

There had been installed a traffic light controlled crossing last time I was up but I advise anyone using it to make sure the traffic stops before stepping out!

[Marions]

just a thought jonnie and others. could it be because the land at the rear of the shops could not be built on because it has no other access than from the front, be the main reason for it generating money as a car park?

However, it does seem that many land owners/landlords are coming unstuck. Tenants can't pay rent on time or are struggling, so landlords give said tenants notice to qujit, increase the rent and then fine they have no takers. Meanwhile they have overheads to pay! Maybe it would have been more sensible to slightly increase the rent of the shops concerned and although thadt is more outgoing,s it means they would not lose customers who are unwilling to pay that money to park.
The worst place I know for parking is in Lefkosia next to the mosque. A grubby piece of land charges 5tl to park. Not tarmacked or marked, but just somewhere to park. Is it no surprise that people try to find alternate parking places. I have one courtesy of a friend who lives nearby, but that doesn't stop eveyrone moaning because they have no alternative.

Maybe we just like things to be the way they were when everyone was poor and when 'progress' had not leapt into North Cyprus?? as I say, - just a thought.

[Rambling Rose]

"Poor" is relative, Marion, and it depends on one's definition of both "poor" and "progress". I prefer to say I preferred it when life was simpler and people came here out of love for the country and were less selfish and mercenary. But I have no time to argue as I have a very sick doggie to care for. Meantime, and to avoid going too far ot I have posted a new thread quoting someone better able to express it than me. Sorry about the duplication - I have no idea how it happened - in fact I was proud of myself for managing to cut and paste successfully!!!

[Marions]

Maybe I meant 'poor in spirit!',. sorry about the dog, but TLC must come first before writing. I have deletedyour secondposting. Actually it is a quite easy thing to do. will explain some time. But it is nearly bedtime. Early night for me - feeling a bit weary.

[Royalcorpsoftranspor]

I am sure unless some people have been on a space ship, that every one has got the message now.
YOU HAVE TO PAY TO PARK TO GO TO MR POUND.
Get over it, Let it go.
Surely Mods you can close this now it is going round in circles .

[Jonnie]

If anyone finds this or for that matter any other thread, dull, boring, repetitive, done to death etc the easiest cure is............don't read it! When everyone has finished it will quietly slip away off the bottom of the page, unless of course someone revives it by demanding its closure!

I say unless threads are causing offence let them "pass away" of natural causes.

[Rambling Rose]

On that point, I (message 86) I entirely agree with you Johnnie.

[Marions]

Agreed. I think i said that somewhere back in another posting or another thread. If you are not interested, then don't read, and leave it to those who are, or just let it fall off the page never to be seen again.

Maybe someone will come up with an answer through this thread. But if not, then let it die. No need to close it or lock it, methinks.

Oh and if you are reading this, then I assume you are still interested in the thread!!!!!!

[Owl Lady]

Yes I am interested to see what the outcome will be.Also if Mr Pound moves to new premises where will he go?
Royalcorpsoftrans you don't have to read this!!













aalso if mr Pound does decide to move to new premises,where he will go.

[Marions]

as they say 'watch this space.' I do want to go and speak to the man himself, as all this is our thoughts, and second hand. If I do get to see him I will post what he says ! (assuming it is printable.)

[Rambling Rose]

Good point Owl Lady. Also I would still like to know (because it would make quite a difference for me and others as indicated ) if they have done anything about the access road.

[Philoz]

Jeez-says a lot about this forum and the people that use it that the most popular topic by far recently is about car parking to a bloody pound shop.

[Marions]

Hmmmm. Obviously you are reading it Philoz! and maybe it is because it IS A Mr Pound shop that the interest is so high.

[karmels]

4 TL is not a pound??????

[jayceebee]

Has this topic got the most replies ever on Kibkom?

[Owl Lady]

Hi, stop spitting hairs Mel.Do we now have to call it the" Mr Pound and a half "shop or the" £1.50" shop

[Marions]

depends on the exchange rate, doesn't it. In one sense it has always been the 'Pound Plus' shop, because 4tl has not yet ever been one pound sterling. But as Shakespeare said 'What's in a name....' and mayube he would go on to say ' .. the goods are still as cheap'.

But of course now they cost a little more because of the parking charge.

And tlaking of that, I did go into a car park today in the High Street and paid my 3tl. Blow me a little later because the car park was full and it was around 4p.m. the man taking the money had gone home. so anyone coming later would not have to pay. Question? Is the poor unfortunate lad at the back of Mr Pound there during all hours????

[Philoz]

Marions.
Given that the original posters question was answered by about post number 5, I realise that the reason you have posted 20x on this thread is that you shop at 'Mr Pound'(Now Mr £2 it would appear) and therefore have an interest in the thread,is the main reason you have not done your usual:-
' I am closing this thread as I believe the posters question has been answered'

There have been many interesting threads that you have axed prematurely,merely because you either didn't understand the subject matter, or it was of no interest to you.

Now being a mod I always thought impartiality was the key word, but obviously not.

As for me reading and following the thread, well, I try to take on board all comments before expressing an opinion,and consider my reply.

Rather than simply reading and replying to the last post on a long thread and getting the wrong end of the stick.

I am sure that you will concur, as an experienced journalist (albeit with a wonky keyboard) that research is essential prior to expressing an opinion,which is why I read all the posts on a thread.

I still therefore stand by my previous post about my bemusement about the number of posts on a thread that was answered and should have been closed long ago.

So I will repeat myself in big letters (for the hard of thinking).

MR POUND DOES NOT OWN THE LAND NEXT TO HIS SHOP.
THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE TO PAY TO PARK THERE.

Thread sorted don't you think marions?

[karmels]

Owl lady.

I thought it was SPLITTING hairs??

Just a joke, don't want my beer over me when we meet next time.

Mel.

[Rambling Rose]

Seems to me that the only thing more trivial than posting about a 3tl parking fee at shop which sells a great deal of trivia is spemding half a page arguing that the thread should be closed!

This is a forum not an intelligence test - if people get innocent amusemnt out of talking about trivia why not let them, it doesnt cost you anything and you (unlike the poor mods) dont have to read it. Quite a lot of the threads here hve no interst for me,so I ingore them. For me this thread is intersting because it sheds a light on the way the country is going, and how it is treating less able people and the attitude of posters to them , and I find it so sad so few see beyond the next bargain - but you dont hve to read my views either - I canform my own judgements from which obssesses / or if they are just looking for a wind up opportunity.