Good Ducati turn out in Matlock

Amazing that they all broke down in the same place...

 

The council have a proposal to start charging bikes that park in Matlock Bath. Crazy, as it'll just cause havoc and reduce visitors which will hit the local economy. I remeber the same happening in Helmsley when they did it there. Lots of bikes still stopped, but there was a mass departure any time a traffic warden appeared. Nobody wants to pay for something they've had for nothing for years?

There's an on line petition to try and stop it here.

Petition details: Your council - Derbyshire County Council

 

I think Matlock will regret it if they apply the charges? Short term gain, long term pain. If I owned one of those cafes, or shops I'd be protesting loudly!

 

El T, I lived around there until 10 years ago and i remeber Helmsley was mobbed on a sunny weekend. The police used to park their "awareness" vehicle there as they had a captive audience. The local shops and cafe's did a roaring trade and now I suspect, as you say, it's a lot quieter? North Yorkashire was a fabulous place for bikes, a local sergeant I knew told me at the time that North Yorks constabulalry had one mobile speed camera and very few static ones. Those were the days.

 

I called round by matlock bath yesterday afternoon, you must have all gone, just a very nice 848 tricolour and my 748.
Steve

 

Signed as a 'visitor to Derbyshire'

 

Thanks Dave.

 

Parking is an easy way to make revenue, and parking charges will come to everyone soon. We're in the middle of a recession here, and councils are waking up to the fact that 10p here and a quid there in parking ends up as a very useful pile of money. If you still think you'll be able to hop off your bike and pop into your local shop, you are seriously deluded.

Sign the bloody petition.

 

Signed.

If the petition doesn't work, perhaps a mass ride through? The message might get through if a large number of bikers ride up & down in Matlock without stopping.

Just a thought...

 

I signed a few weeks ago.
A few bob here and a pound there would soon be outweighed by one shop closed here followed by another and loss of rates.
Steve

 

We were in Matlock yesterday morning and it was heaving with bikes. I can't imagine what's going on inside peoples heads who want to charge bikers and risk losing that atmosphere and extra trade that Matlock must desparately need during the summer months. I've been there in the winter and it's like a ghost town! By the way there were five of us, my brother in law on his newly accuired 888, my sister on her R1, my son on his Kwak z750, a friend on his Suzuki gt750 race rep and me on my newly accuired 750ss carby. Also noticed a nice early white framed 900ss while we were there - anybody here?

 

also signed...............thanks MartinP!

Me and him outdoors regularly ride out that area as is about 30 mins from where we live, even in winter!
You can usually find us sitting on the pavement opposite chippie, with our flask (we do buy chips and ice cream but there is no way he will pay over 2 quid for a latte!) Love what the visiting bikes have made of the place, as I think many of the general public as well as the proprietors do....we wouldnt bother going otherwise, although there are undoubtedly some fabulous rides around the area which we would NEVER want to stop experiencing

 

No good moaning here. Write to the council involved. It's your duty.

 

signed as a resident.