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  • "
    Joe Hune wrote:
    meldrew84 wrote:
    emcee wrote:
    Joe Hune wrote:
    meldrew84 wrote: And perhaps Mr Wells should look into premises with parking facilities instead of encouraging illegal parking just to profit himself!
    Just shows what a great business man Mr Wells is to pick a premises without parking! The lights are on, but obviously nobody was home when he thought opening a shop in this location without any parking was good! So because I haven't got anything else to do Mr Wells thinks he will invite a load of sad old bikers to Southend to do his dirty work for him! Get a life Mr Wells!!
    Maybe Mr Wells had the premises long before the parking restrictions were as they are.
    The parking along Woodgrange is hardly restricted anyway! There's multiple spaces along the stretch of road where his shop is and usually i only see the wardens ensuring people don't out stay their welcome in the parking spots, so they are effectively trying to help him by ensuring the spots are regularly free for multiple customers to come and go as opposed to one or two selfish drivers hogging the spot all day! Not to mention there is parking on the side streets. What this buffoon has failed to recognise is the cars and wardens are doing his business a favour by making sure people don't take the spot for themselves all day! Or does he not realise people from the train station will be keen to hog the spots all day, before his custom even attempts an arrival if allowed to do so! I have a suspicion the man has not much else to do apart from make a feeble attempt at getting his business advertised for free in the local paper in an attempt at luring fellow supporters to his shop. Just a thought......
    So true!

    This idiot just wants his name in the paper as he knows the ECHO struggle for proper news and will print anything!

    When Mr Peter Watkins and Mr Bob Wells had their mug shots in the ECHO, you could tell they hadn't got an once of brains between them!

    The more the spaces are kept clear, the more customers will pop in a give you business, so well done the Wardens!

    But if these two Buffoons encourage their lazy customers to park in the Bus Stop on Woodgrange Drive, that is different.
    To Nigel Wise.

    Many thanks for the clarification. We have no problem being associated with No To Mob, just would like papers to get the facts straight but then what with the resident trolls that frequent these messages, facts mean nothing to them.

    I could get on a name calling and insult rant like some of the people here but I do not have the brains according to Joe Hune... By the way Joe, it is pretty amazing how you can judge someone's mental ability by a "mugshot" in the paper. Lets see a picture of you then everyone can make a similar judgement back. Or better still GROW UP!"
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Masked bikers warn drivers about spy cars

Watching the CCTV car – Graeme Jones and Si Clark Watching the CCTV car – Graeme Jones and Si Clark

CAMPAIGNERS are donning vigilante-style masks and taking to the streets of Southend warning motorists who are in danger of being nabbed by the council’s spy cars.

The group, known as No To Mob, are following the controversial CCTV cars around the borough on motorbikes, stopping to tell drivers parked illegally to move on – or get a fine.

The six masked men form part of a protest about the way the cars are being used and the rules under which they operate.

Their leader is trader Bob Wells, 52, who has led similar protests in Westminster and Bexley, Kent.

Mr Wells, owner of Printer and Cartridge Solutions in Woodgrange Drive, Southend, started his campaign following fears the spy car was driving vital custom away from his business.

He claims the car travels along the road past the stretch of shops at least once a day looking for illegal parkers. And therefore is not fulfilling its purpose.

Steve Baker, from Enfield, a member of the group, said: “We are not stopping the cars from doing their job. In fact, we are encouraging and helping them.

“If drivers are not parking illegally, then they won’t get caught.

“We are simply helping the spy car fulfil what the Secretary of State said in 2008, which was to get 100 per cent compliance, with no penalty charges.

“We also observed the cars to make sure they were not committing any offences themselves when they were out.”

Mr Wells launched his petition calling for a review on the controversial cars in April.

It has so far attracted more than 2,000 signatures from fed-up traders and residents.

He hopes No To Mob’s presence has caught the attention of council officials.

Mr Wells, of The Drive, Chalkwell, who has set up action group SOSSpyCar, said: “Traffic offences in the town need to be policed responsibly, and at the moment they are not.

“Many of the parking issues we have can be dealt with by traffic wardens.

“I support the car covering schools and clamping down on dangerous parking, but it seems by and large they are not doing this.”

Andrew Lewis, director for enterprise, tourism and the environment, at Southend Council said: “I am extremely concerned.

“The two civil enforcement officers found their presence extremely intimidating.

“Unfortunately, there was nothing we could do to prevent them from taking this action as they weren’t breaking the law.”

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