NEW BROW CAR PARK FACILITY FINALLY OPENED [15/08/08 00:43:19]
After months of legal wrangling, the promised new overflow Car Park facility at Wits End finally opened yesterday afternoon (see right) amidst a sea of protest from neighbouring homeowners who labelled the move as just another of Squire Everett's moneymaking plans.
However, there can be little doubt that the additional spaces are much needed following an escalation in activity at The Brow this summer which has seen long queues of traffic forming in the area and cars abandoned haphazardly in the grounds as impatient visitors struggle to park.
The first customer was Mr Paul Le Ford of Guernsey (pictured below parking and handing over his fee to the attendant) who welcomed the new amenity saying "I am forced to travel a long distance to come to The Brow and there is no suitable public service available. I often have trouble finding a space and this is absolutely ideal, being situated so close to the pavilion". Mr Le Ford is one of several punters that reserved a personal space several months ago when news of the car park first broke.
Another happy recipient of a private slot was Mr Paul Da Vino of Fingringhoe who felt that it was a "marvellous gesture by Mr Everett to meet the needs of the club's loyal following". He added, "A lot of people slag Ev off, but this is a selfless act that derserves proper recongition and I hope that he picks up the Polly Rogers Award this year".
When questioned about what some have criticised as "exhorbitant charges", Mr Da Vino replied "I suppose £5 per hour (or part thereof) is quite steep for an out-of-town car park but the level of the fee should deter the riff raff and I am all for that".
Not everybody is over the moon with the new arrangements though. Head of Security John Stockbridge (69) foresaw a significant increase in car crime and he told the wesbite "Its typical of that f***ing p**t Everett, he doesn't give a f*** about anybody else's workload. If that sneaky pork pie gets the chop at Manchester City, Sparky will be on his way and I am a dead cert for that job, so I will be out of here" he fumed.
There will be some (but probably not that many) who have sympathy with the much-maligned Stockbridge whose dismal performance at The Brow regularly comes under the microscope and many felt he was very lucky to be offered a fresh contract earlier this year after failing to cope with an escalation in petty crime.
Mr Everett was unavailable for comment yesterday afternoon, believed to be sunning himself in the Canaries. His absence from the official opening ceremony was however seen more as an act of cowardice than that of a millionaire businessman too busy to be bothered with such trifling matters.
With his neighbours threatening legal action, he perhaps wisely stayed away, although he was due back in the country under the cover of darkness and with his bodyguard in tow.
One angry local resident, who asked not be identified for fear of reprisals, said "He has gone too far this time. He swans off to foreign climes whilst his flunkies open up the car park and he thinks we won't notice. I am not usually one for cliches, but its the thin end of the wedge and the last straw as far as I am concerned.
Last word came from Stockbridge: "If the c*** thinks I am going to f***ing stand there and take money every night, he can go and take a jump. I have got far too much with my present duties".
