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    dodgie1 wrote:
    You know these forums just go to show what a load of selfish and self interested ignorant people there are out there. Why don't most of you grow up and take a balanced view at the parking situations that can arise from just being a normal law abiding citizen. Like for instance a friend of mine that happens to live in a road with a bi monthly waiting restriction during the summer months. No problem with cars parked both sides but the council choose to operate this scheme. His daughter visits him to drop her young baby off and because the parking on the other side of the road is full, she parks on the no waiting side for just a couple of minutes . She causes no problem to any one, is not parking dangerously and not causing an obstruction in any way. Yes the spy car gets her. She is given no chance to explain or move the car, she is done. Another one of the 50 odd bookings for that car on that day! Now you wise no alls out there tell me that she has done wrong. Any that say yes she has well I would like to see what you would say if that had happened to you or your daughter. Had a warden on foot seen the situation, he would have most probably had a conversation and gone on his way. The complete disadvantage with the spy cars is the indiscriminate way they operate. You wise no alls out there just wait until you are picked on by these cars for a minor indiscretion. Just wait until you experience the rude and arrogant attitude of the operators. Just wait until you experience the periscope homed in on you for doing nothing. Just wait until you experience the two operators sitting in their little ivory tower smirking at you. I believe you are unable to enter any argument until you know all the facts on both sides. There are far too many people these days that form a bigoted opinion borne of ignorance.
    One minute you are giving it large about these people who drive the cars not having any brains and the next minute you are going on about 'bigoted opinion borne of ignorance'!!

    WHAT A MUPPET YOU REALLY ARE!!

    You don't know these people, you don't know if they are qualified or not, in fact you actually do not know anything about them apart from the job that they do!!

    How does the driver of the car know this women hasn't been there all day??

    How does he know she has a baby??

    How does he know she is visiting?

    He will see a vehicle parking illigally and film it for 3 minutes as quoted by some Council official in a previous article. If he doesn't see any movement for 3 minutes yes he has every right to issue the person with a ticket!

    Why don't they get out of their cars? Would you if you had to put up with some of the bad mouthed bigoted, ignorant people who live in Southend or comment on this site, because I wouldn't!!

    Why do people want foot Wardens? Because they can be intimidated or thretened.

    Pathetic people like you who in one comment go on about the drivers not being that gifted and then later on go on about a balanced views.

    I see these Wardens walking outside my shop every day and they get crap and abuse all the time. I'm glad they have these cars and don't get out to talk to idiots like you and I just hope that the CCTV car gets you or yours one day as I can't think of anybody else who would deserve it more!"
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Masked bikers warn drivers about spy cars

8:40am Monday 18th June 2012 in News By Jasmin McDermott

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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