How much difference does one day make near the DVLA in Swansea?

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Thursday, March 11, 2010
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This is SouthWales

WHAT a difference a day makes.

At least that is what Clase residents living around Swansea's DVLA offices will tell you following this week's 48-hour walk-out by agency staff.

But photographs taken by the Evening Post appear to tell a different story.

For months, fed up members of the community have been moaning about staff at the government department.

They claimed that on a daily basis, employees parked their cars on streets surrounding the head office in Longview Road, causing chaos for residents with cars.

On Monday and Tuesday this week a welcome respite was set to be offered as a third of the 4,000 or so civil servants working at the DVLA took part in strike action, freeing up parking spaces in Clase.

They were among thousands of Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union members who took part in a UK-wide strike about changes to redundancy and fears over pension cash.

The Evening Post sent a photographer to the area on Tuesday and again on Wednesday to see what difference the strike made to the parking situation — but the pictures reveal little difference, with plenty of empty spaces.

But Mynyddbach councillor Audrey Clement said: "For two days the problem was much, much better, people have noticed the difference.

"On the weekends we have no problem with parking and it was the same at the beginning of the week, you can see for yourselves that problems are a direct effect of the DVLA building."

Frustrations with DVLA staff came to a head last month when employees had their car tyres slashed while at work. Eyewitnesses said as many as 40 cars were attacked.

One DVLA worker caught up in the incident, who did not want his name published for fear of further attacks, said: "Every car in the road had its tyres slashed — it was unbelievable. People were left stranded, nobody could get home."

Our pictures might not back up the parking problem claims, but Audrey Clement was adamant things needed to change. She added: "There are people working in the office from 7am to 7pm and people simply cannot park outside their houses."

The DVLA reiterated efforts were being made to solve the parking problems.

A spokesperson said: "We actively encourage the use of a range of parking facilities.

"These include car sharing, subsidised works buses, prioritised permits, overflow parking and a park and ride facility at Felindre, which has capacity far greater than our needs."

sion.morgan@swwmedia.co.uk

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    by Ray Welsby, Clase Morriston

    Saturday, March 13 2010, 9:04PM

    “I am tired of people moaning about the DVLA, workers parking their cars in Clase. Before people pass comment's how many attended meetings at the DVLA to express their concerns.I can count on one hand the people from Clase estate who attended 4 yes "Four" people and how do I know because I attended every meeting representing some of the residents of Clasemont Road as their spokesperson.We found that the DVLA acted on the requests we made to them,and also we had meetings with the chief executive who was always willing to meet with us.These meetings were open to all residents and it was up to local councillor's to advertise the meetings as they were all informed along with the AM, and MP, but both failed to attend any meetings and did not send any apologies.So the people of Clase have only their councillor's,AM and MP to blame for not informing them of these meetings.”

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    by SJ, City Centre, Swansea

    Friday, March 12 2010, 9:01AM

    “If you live in an area where parking is an issue I'm afraid you just have to suck it up. People park in my street all the time to avoid paying the fees in the official car parks - yes it's irritating when I can't park anywhere near my house and have to drive round the block 4 times. But as long as people are parked legally then that's just a problem I have to deal with for wanting to live in town. The people in Clase need to grow up and realise that the road belongs to all Vehicle Excise Duty payers not just ones who happen to live in an area.”

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    by Mark, Swansea

    Friday, March 12 2010, 8:10AM

    “The Council should put in residents parking bays, and then start charging for permits. They do this in many other Councils, offset the cost of providing the bays, and I'd have thought any small contribution to reducing their deficit would be welcome.”

  • Profile image for This is SouthWales

    by Damien, Swansea

    Thursday, March 11 2010, 8:59PM

    “LOL They dont know what its like to have a car parked outside thier houses”

  • Profile image for This is SouthWales

    by Golden Ballack, Planet Zog

    Thursday, March 11 2010, 8:55PM

    “Come on please, its Clase. Its a council estate! please park anywhere, it happens in langland in the summer when you lot invade gower in your Saxo's! with chantel and a gold necklace!

    They are good honest people going to work so seriously get over it”

  • Profile image for This is SouthWales

    by humps, Morriston

    Thursday, March 11 2010, 7:34PM

    “If people in the surrounding area of the DVLA don't like the parking situation, MOVE! The DVLA has been there for years bringing work to the area, we should be thankful for jobs in this day and age! When people moved to the area I'm sure they couldn't have missed the 16 floor building! People drive to the DVLA for number of reasons, it's not to annoy the residents. If they wouldn't have rejected the recent car park plans, we wouldn't be dragging this story on and on and on. These vehicles are legal to be on the road and park anywhere-except residents of course! Live with it and stop complaining. Get a life!”

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    by CCS, Swansea

    Thursday, March 11 2010, 5:29PM

    “Absolutely well said R Davis and Roon. These moaners must have plenty of time to spend. I have driven along Clasemont Road myself and have commented to my wife how disgraceful these grass verges look because of selfish residents living there parking their vehicles on them. This is a main gateway road in and out of Swansea Via Morriston and Llangyfelach. What a sight for sore eyes. Oh and yes I almost forgot, it was the residents who objected and moaned when planning permission was needed to build extra spaces at dvla. There would have been room there for approx 150 cars, problem WOULD have been solved, but no no no, they objected! So stop moaning, stay off the grass verges (the daffodils are paid for by us to enjoy) and leave the office workers alone to do their jobs.”

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    by R Davis, Swansea

    Thursday, March 11 2010, 5:21PM

    “FAO moaning, whingeing, bored residents of Clase. STOP. Sort out your ruined grass verges along Clasemont Road,- yes take a good long hard look! Daffodils parked on, grass verges ruined beyond belief, there are deep trenches where your 4X4's and cars have destroyed them, many residents cars parked on them (non DVLA workers here)! The Evening Post should do something useful here and send the photographer up to capture all you residents parking on them. We are sick of hearing you having a go at office workers who park respectfully. Instead of mouthing off, try using your drives they are big enough!!!!!!!!”

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    by Peter, swansea

    Thursday, March 11 2010, 5:14PM

    “It's getting rediculous how this story keeps going on and on every week. End of the day, residents will continue to complain, staff will continue to park wherever providing its not residential parking only. Nothing will change. Those that vandalise the cars should be locked up. Slash the tyres how do you expect that driver to move their car for the home owner to park. I know its difficult but residents got to understand that they don't own the road the council do. No home owner can determine who can and can't park there. I know its frustrating, I have the same problem where I live. At the end of the day we don't pay extra on taxes to own the car park space outside the house. You just have to live with it. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but there are more important things going in life that are worth worrying about more than a flipping parking place. Send your complaints to the council and have the whole area made into residential parking and stop crying about it. I know its discurtious for home owners but unfortunatly we live in a world where there aren't that many nice people left. Everyone has their own opinion on this but mine is that the council are the only one's that can do anything. So stop dragging DVLA name through the mud and start asking what the council will do about it. Come on eveneing post there must be better stories out there than this.”

  • Profile image for This is SouthWales

    by Jennifer, Swansea

    Thursday, March 11 2010, 4:58PM

    “Clase should just be flattened and made into one big carpark. What a horrid place it really is!”

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