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To give website setup help via the forum would be a bit longwinded and time consuming on your part to learn the necessary software coding or specialised web design software packages.
In the first instance, can I suggest that you perhaps look into setting up a blog. Free blogs are available and would give you a web presence at no direct cost. They are more straightforward than learing website development and have a "content driven" philospohy - that is is, once you have learnt the basics (which is trivial in comparison to web design software) you can concentrate on the campaign and writing the actual content rather than worrying about layout, design, images and coding aspects.
Blogs also provide an automatic comments ability - so you automatically get a framework for communication with other interested parties to share ideas, campaign approach, progress, successes and failures etc.
If you Google "Free Blog Sites" or somesuch you will get an idea of what is available. However, I would advise looking at Wordpress or Blogger initially as I have found those to be the most reliable, respected and easy to use / set-up.
If you need further help or guidance I will be delighted to help, but perhaps you could ask a mod to forward your details directly so that we can communicate outside of the backroom and not bore eveyone to tears with web/blog site design details.
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QUOTE:..""The petition asks for Clause 56 to be removed from the bill as parking is a civil not criminal matter and to assign guilt without proof or due process is in contravention of Clause 29 in The Magna Carta still in effect today.""
There weren't any cars around when Magna Carta was drafted. Parliament is sovereign in this country. Nobody can over-rule Parliament - not even the monarch, although they can dissolve a parliament. If Parliament passes legislation that contravenes clause 29 of Magna Carta, so be it, that legislation still becomes law and the battle moves to the courts over the interpretation of that law.
Edited by Sofa Spud on 08/08/2011 at 14:42
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To condense Sofa Spud's post, he's saying we should all register our cars in the name of Ken Livingstone now. Im going to start a campaign.
Hehe :)
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QUOTE:..""The petition asks for Clause 56 to be removed from the bill as parking is a civil not criminal matter and to assign guilt without proof or due process is in contravention of Clause 29 in The Magna Carta still in effect today.""
There weren't any cars around when Magna Carta was drafted. Parliament is sovereign in this country. Nobody can over-rule Parliament - not even the monarch, although they can dissolve a parliament. If Parliament passes legislation that contravenes clause 29 of Magna Carta, so be it, that legislation still becomes law and the battle moves to the courts over the interpretation of that law.
Hello Sofa Spud, Parliament does pass the laws we all have to observe, it does not mean they are right. Magna Carta or not I cannot believe that our own Parliament should be allowed by us, the people it is supposed to represent, to empower a dubious bunch of scammers AKA The British Parking Association to persecute British motorist for financial gain.
The so called 'Protection of Freedoms Bill' Section2:Clause 56 is as vile a piece of anti-public legislation as you will find anywhere. The only 'freedoms' this will protect or promote, is the freedom of these BPA lepers to fleece motorists without the need of proof of guilt or intention. All they need is your details as registered keeper of a vehicle, which they get from the DVLA for a fee, and bingo-gotcha.
So if any authorised user of your vehicle overstayed in ASDA for 10 minutes the BPA would come after you for about £80. Even if you informed them who the driver was, do you think it is fair to be charged £80 for a 10 minute overstay in ASDA, especially when shopping there? You would soon be screaming Magna Carta/ Human Rights then. If you are prepared to blindly follow the edicts of Parliament and the bad law they are capable of passing then you will sleep walk into 1984.
A famous quotation states ' for evil to flourish it only needs good men to do nothing' Nothing is not an option and believe me the BPA are evil. They are in this game for one thing only-MONEY, which is after all the root of all evil. I do not mean to lecture, but I am blowed if I am going to surrender my freedoms, even by dint of Parliament. Trust me I am a politician-not. Cheers Concrete
Edited by Avant on 08/08/2011 at 22:09
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HJ used to recommend offering a partial payment of, say, £15 as a reasonable and proportionate redress for breach of contract and challenging the parking firm to sue you. Does anyone know what the outcome of this course of action was likely to be?
I have to say that this approach sounds more effective than a blog or website which is likely to fall into the anonymity of cyberspace.
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Hello unthrottled. I think HJ may have changed his position about this, as it gives these private parking scammers a definite point of contact. In any event, however you handled it, these pirates could only issue an invoice(made to look like an official PCN) and try to enforce it in a civil court. They have as much chance of winning as getting a ride on Flipper!
So for people who know the rules we have all the protection of freedom we need under exisiting civil laws. This proposed 'Protection of Freedoms Bill' Section2:Clause 56 will empower these private parking sharks to pursue the registered keeper of the vehicle, without proof of guilt, for any charges issued against the vehicle- or guilty until proven innocent- the law turned on its' head. The offence of parking on private land by private treaty will then come under the criminal jurisdiction instead of civil jurisdiction.
You can offer them £15 if you wish, but they will simply take you court, and win. Your present protection will be removed and you will be a sitting duck for these money grabbing scammers. What is more, via our government and the DVLA they will have full access to all our details with regard to motor vehicles. Talk about biting the hand that feeds- these politicians are real doozies aren't they! We vote them in and they set these scammers on their own constituents, you would think it far fetched if it were on TV, but it will happen if we do not wake up and protest, loudly and forcefully. You pays your money etc etc. Cheers Concrete
Edited by Avant on 08/08/2011 at 22:10
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Thanks to JamesEB and nestoncyc for your comments. Very useful and encouraging. I have heard that the E Petitions are proving popular, with one about Capital Punishment already near the required signature levels to instigate a debate in Parliament. A debate though is all we are likely to get. Our idiotic MP's say they will still vote against, despite the fact over 90% of their constituents are in favour, what price democracy? Anyway please keep me informed JamesEB and I will add my moniker with pride.
Your offer of assistance is very welcome nestoncyc and I would be happy to communicate directly. If the Moderator is reading this then please pass my e mail address to nestoncyc. You are right, it is easy to get 'subject fatigue' after a while and exhaust the very supporters you need on board. If we could only get one friend each to write their MP the response would be enormous and send a clear message that we are not happy about this proposed legislation. Best to all. Concrete
Edited by Avant on 08/08/2011 at 22:10
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The death penalty e-petition is a prime example of minimum effort democracy. Clicking 'like' doesn't validate an opinion or affect change. The UK is a signatory to the of the European Convention on Human Rights which prohbits the death penalty under ALL circumstances. Therefore, calling for a parliamentary debate is a complete waste of time.
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Therefore, calling for a parliamentary debate is a complete waste of time.
Perhaps. But politicians only weigh the post bag, they dont read the letters.
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The death penalty e-petition is a prime example of minimum effort democracy. Clicking 'like' doesn't validate an opinion or affect change. The UK is a signatory to the of the European Convention on Human Rights which prohbits the death penalty under ALL circumstances. Therefore, calling for a parliamentary debate is a complete waste of time.
The death penalty is not the issue here, it was used as an example of how the strength of public feeling can be made clear to Parliament, who are elected to represent OUR views, and may act as a timely reminder to the political classes that we expect the 'dog to wag the tail' and not the other way around.
I suppose in the face of what Europe wants, and our own Parliament wants we should all just stay silent and accept anything that is handed down from on high. We should all do as we are told, after all 'you can't fight city hall' and all that rubbish. If you really believe that any form of protest, in whatever form, is a complete waste of time then that is just the kind of citizen the modern politician wants. After all they have our best interests at heart- don't they?
I believe the 'mushroom principle' best describes the real political agenda. Well, that is not for me and luckily, for lots of others too who expect to have reasoned arguments listened to and debated upon and if correct then enacted upon. I believe it is called democracy here in Britain, bit I daresay the European Union, unelected of course, would prefer something a little confrontational and much more acquiescent. Well they can dream, can't they! Cheers Concrete
Edited by Avant on 08/08/2011 at 22:11
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Concrete - I've given your E-mail address to Nestoncyc (to whom many thanks) as requested. Good luck.
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No, I don't think we should stay silent. But I don't think the e-petition is going to herald a revival of public engagement with politics.
I think the traditional method is best; write to your MP. A blog/website/petition can be easily ignored-written correspondence demands a response. There's always a chance that, in drafting a generic reply, the MP might actually have to consider the issue!
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As you may hav read, not only did I set up the e-petition but also contacted my MP - and I urge you all to do the same.
The e-petition is, if we have the numbers, aimed at bringing our opposition to this clause to the attention of The Commons as a whole rather than just one or two MPs.
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Thank you for raising this issue Concrete, & bringing it to peoples attention.
I would suggest that the majority would definately oppose this clause, but will probably leave any action to 'someone else'.
It needs to be made as easy as possible for Joe Blogs to raise his opposition with his/her MP.
To this end, could I suggest that someone who is better versed in the english language & law than I, compose a stet letter that could be copy & pasted by anyone.
They would just need to add their own name/address & find out their local MP's address to send to.
Just a suggestion.
Edited by dieselnut on 09/08/2011 at 13:47
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Hello All, just a thank you for the input. Thanks Avant for your help, looking forward to talking with nestoncyc. JamesEB your e petition details when you have them will be welcome. Unthrottled, I agree with you regarding written correspondence, it has much more force. However getting people to agree with you is one thing, getting them to put pen to paper is another. At least the internet is accessible and available to most and is immediate, while the message is still with you. I am doing both. Didn't mean to lecture you but the thought of doing nothing is a complete anathema. Dielselnut, your suggestion is a good idea. I will work on a standard letter and post it for comment and improvement. The only trouble then is how to get online so people can download it and print it off. We can cross that bridge later. Should have a letter within a few days. Still working for a living so time is limited sometimes. Best to all. Concrete.
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The e-petition has been approved.
It can be found at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/6342 - hopefully the wording gets the message across.
I have been in contact with my MP who will also be asking questions around Westminster but being the summer recess I can't see much happening.
Even if we don't make the crucial 100,000 signatures the petition can still be used by our MPs as a sign of the public's feeling on this matter.
Please spread the word!
J.
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JamesEB - do a search for "private parking tickets" and post your link on other forums. Pepipoo, moneysavingexpert, consumeractiongroup.co.uk are three to get you started.
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Signed the e-petition, waiting for verification e mail.
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I signed the petition today (and confirmed by the e-mail reply) but noted there were only 20 signatures!
I also copied the petition details into a letter to my MP (not that I'm hopeful he'll do anything, his responses to previous letters have always slavishly parrotted the Labour party line)
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My local MP is a Conservative so i'll send it to them if you think it'll make any difference LOL
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Signed & verified, now up to 31 signatures.
Come on everyone, get signed up.
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You know what this is an example of? One of those laws which tends to go un-noticed and nobody cares until the day when some poor sod gets told they are liable irrespective of evidence and they'll say 'why didnt anybody mention this before hand with petitions etc?' its one of those which people will complain about too late, rather than pay attention now.
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