Thursday 3 November 2011

Judges asked to review Westminster parking fees | News

Following from our previous blog we thought this might be interesting...

Judges asked to review Westminster parking fees | News

Concessions on Parking Tickets for Tradespeople

Imagine you have finished a hard day at work, covered in dust and sweat, when you walk to your vehicle, only to realise you would have been better off staying at home watching the kids. This is the soul destroying situation thousands of hard working tradespeople find themselves in every day after they have gone over by 5 minutes on their allotted parking time.

 I, Oscar Sangster, Finance Director at Affleck Property Services have put together a petition which will be at builders’ merchants in SW London to take to the Government over the unjust 'tax' I feel basic rate paying tradespeople with no alternatives have to dish out every year on parking tickets.

Most tradespeople, plumbers, electricians, builders, roofers will fall within the basic tax band of 20% and earn less than £37,400 per year. With average parking tickets, congestion fines and traffic violations it is common to hear of tradespeople in London incurring fines over £1000 in a year. Taking average earnings of £30k, this represents a tax of over 3%.

With tradespeople having no alternatives but to drive and arrange parking surely this is too harsh a penalty for anyone without alternatives. Imagine the uproar if the banking industry had to pay out an additional 3% in tax, you can guarantee it would make front page news.

This penalty is not only bore to the individual, businesses also feel the burden. Penalty notices come through the door every day, and they need to be answered. At Affleck we will soon need to dedicate this responsibility full time to an office administrator. More cost, more bureaucracy, more stress and more soul destruction to suffocate the driving force of British Industry.

With people power behind us we hope to get a reduction or concession in the penalties for tradespeople and businesses. We need a more compassionate penalty system for businesses and individuals alike, quite simply it is unjust given the fact tradespeople have no option but to drive in and run the gauntlet of the cameras and the parking attendants. I think most tradespeople appreciate it is a luxury to drive a car in a busy congested city, but to penalise those with no alternatives when they are just trying to earn a living, is clearly not fair.

 Please follow this blog for further updates on the petition, and the response from our local councillor.


 c/o Oscar Sangster
Director

Affleck Property Services


Friday 26 August 2011

Bank Holiday Weekend

Well it's almost time to sign off for the long weekend...!

The office has been super busy scheduling in works for the next two months, I hate to say it but we will be looking Christmas in the face sooner than you think!

We have been awash with PPE today - High vis vests for the teams out on site, and rather snazzy site paperwork folders too....all branded with the famous Affleck Bubbles of course!

Everyone has been missing Archie this summer, he has been sunning himself in Stevenage, with the exception of a small shower....

Tuesday 23 August 2011

Daily Update 23rd August 2011

What a rainy start to the week! Gutters over flowing and general roof leaks have keep our roofer out of trouble.

The Affleck Handymen are busy as ever putting up shelves, re-glazing windows and painting a front door. One handyman has been cat-proofing a flat fitting restrictors to sash windows and closing up gaps in a kitchen. Lucky kitty!

A shower with no water? Better call an Affleck Plumber...while you are at it if you have water poring out of a light fitting better get one of our Electricians first and then a Plumber or a Roofer to stop the water. Water and electricity are a dangerous combination, always be safe and call a professional rather than attempting to fix yourself.

Friday 19 August 2011

Daily Update 19th August 2011

It's the end of a very busy week in the Affleck office and we are all looking forward to the weekend.

Today our Plumbers have been busy all over South West London attending to leaks and drips. The Electrician's have been working on projects today - a lovely new bathroom in Battersea and finishing touches to garden lighting in Battersea. Lovely! Our roofer is currently seeking an extra pair of hands to cope with demand.

We have reviewed the photos of the Streathem bathroom and it really is wonderful! Here is a sneak peek before the album goes live on Monday.


The Handymen have been flat out painting today in Battersea and Camberwell - seems everyone is refreshing their homes this summer.

The sales department will be kept very busy next week with every available appointment being book up already. Brilliant!



Thursday 18 August 2011

Daily Update 18th August 2011

Our Roofer is in demand throughout London, guttering seems to be a popular issue at the moment, and with Summer showers expected now seems like a good time to have your gutters inspected. Keep an eye out for our roofer in his bright yellow van!

The Electricians are busy dodging the rain in a SW11 garden fitting lighting into decking. Once the sun goes down it will look fantastic. They are also busy assisting our Plumbers on an emergency leak in Earls Court.

Affleck Plumbers were on hand to attend to a leak in Earls Court, a noisy wc in Twickenham, dripping taps in Clapham and a new boiler in Wandsworth...phew, busy day!

We have just finished a wonderful Bathroom in SW16, Streatham, look out for our pictures coming soon to Facebook! Another new extension project has been booked in for Putney to start very soon.

Meanwhile the office has been buzzing with talk of babies, cats, weddings and haribo's....and that's just the guys!


Wednesday 17 August 2011

Daily Update 17th August 2011

Our Handymen are busier than ever working on jobs in Balham, Wandsworth and Peckham. Another very satisfied Handyman client comments that our Handyman was very considerate and had great attention to detail.

We have kicked off a large refurbishment project this morning in Holland Park, looking forward to the transformation as it unfolds. Keep an eye on our facebook page for photo-updates!

The Affleck Plumbers are working throughout London solving plumbing problems in Earlsfield, Notting Hill, and Dulwich today. Follow our Head Plumber's blog for news and information on Plumbing.

Our Electricians are busy in Battersea installing a new fuseboard and garden lighting, as well as setting the mood for a new kitchen!

The sales team are arranging quotes for air-conditioning, tiling kitchen floors, and a side/rear extensions.

All in all a very busy day! Where do we find the time to blog?!