The clip below was from this week's Politics Show ... Hull City Council using parking fines to raise revenue ... Leeds City Council accused by Government officials of fraud and extortion.
Who is going to bring this lawless situation to an end?
Monday, March 16, 2009
Newcastle Council parking blunder brings free parking for motorists
Another council blunders over its parking regulations. This time its Newcastle. At first they denied that there were any problems ... then failed to produce any evidence in Court when Roberto Campoli brought his case.
Then more and more questions were asked and was eventually supplied by the Department for Transport ... which showed there was more to this than meets the eye.
The £30 Fixed Daily Charge signs were being removed and all the bays remarked. Remember that the Special Authorisation for the Fixed Daily Charge signs was revoked in 2001 and 185,000 parking tickets were issued AFTER that. The council claimed that they had counsel's opinion that said otherwise, but communications from the Department for Transport stated that Newcastle should have been fully aware of the consequences of their actions. Looks like someone needs to challenge this in court ... if the council wish to maintain the position that they are correct.
Meanwhile, the remarking of the bays meant that they could not be enforced until the council gets permission. The are moving from criminalised to civil enforcement ... and can only do so if they reassure the DfT that all their signs, lines and traffic orders are correct ... hence the panic to get everything corected.
They had hoped that no-one would notice. Unfortunately for them we did.
So now it is free parking as shown below. However, if you have had a ticket in the last few weeks we would like to hear ...
Newcastle City Council parking loophole lets drivers off hook
Mar 14 2009
by Paul James,
The Journal
LITTLE-KNOWN Government rules have led to a parking free-for-all in the region. Council officials last night admitted they are powerless to enforce regulations governing thousands of parking spaces in the North East.
The rules mean Newcastle City Council is unable to issue parking fines to drivers who park in certain disabled or residential spaces or those allocated for taxis or loading.
It is because council chiefs are preparing for parking enforcement to become a civil, rather then criminal regime, which is expected to be authorised next month.
They have replaced about 3,000 £30 fixed daily charge signs and bay markings across the city in advance of the switch.
But traffic wardens are currently powerless to fine anyone for parking in those bays because the Government is yet to approve the new orders.
Parking campaigners say the council’s admission as a victory for drivers in the city, as well as businesses which will benefit from extra shoppers. But council chiefs last night warned it would be "irresponsible" for people to park in bays meant for disabled people, taxis and for loading.
Parking campaigner Neil Herron, who has previously helped several motorists challenge fines from the £30 signs, said the council was "bang to rights".
Mr Herron said: "We always knew from the outset that this regime was massively flawed, but the council went into a state of denial instead of just accepting it.
"For at least four or five weeks Newcastle businesses are going to benefit and more people are going to come into the city because they’re not going to be punished with parking fines."
The city council said there were "obvious moral issues" with the free parking issue and that "just because people can park in these places, it doesn’t mean that they should".
The council estimates that around 50 loading bays, 100 disabled bays and 50 taxi bays, plus all the city’s residents’ parking spaces, are affected.
Jesmond restaurant Francesca’s, situated within a new residents’ parking scheme, is advertising the free parking in a bid to stop potential customers driving away when they see the road signs.
Boss Giovanni Sardone, whose family have run the business for 25 years, said: "We have regular customers coming from Hexham, Corbridge, all over the place, and they find it hard to get a parking space.
"Customers are saying they can’t find a space and have had to drive away – it’s the major talking point now when people come in.
"We’ve put a big sign in the window to stop people driving away. We think these new rules are going to have a major knock-on effect on the business. We’ve filled 10 pages of a petition – it’s something we really don’t want to happen."
Newcastle Council director of regulatory services and public protection, Stephen Savage, said: "I can confirm that until April 15, when civil parking enforcement is implemented in Newcastle, people who park in disabled bays and other areas like loading bays and taxi ranks cannot be prosecuted."
The complication arises because the council has replaced police signs and markings with its own – meaning that officers can no longer legally enforce the regulations. But the council cannot implement fines either because Government rules state it must give six weeks’ notice of its intent to do so.
Last night, Mr Savage urged drivers to act responsibly.
"There are obvious moral issues here," he said. "Just because people can park in these places it doesn’t mean that they should. It is irresponsible to do so as it affects business and quality of life in the city and directly impacts on vulnerable people in our community.
"Imposing penalties on people who do park in these areas is not a revenue-raising exercise, or something we do out of spite. We do it evenly and without prejudice because it is our job to keep this city moving and make sure people have a convenient, safe and legal place to park."
The Department for Transport confirmed it expected the council to have the necessary powers by April 15.
Then more and more questions were asked and was eventually supplied by the Department for Transport ... which showed there was more to this than meets the eye.
The £30 Fixed Daily Charge signs were being removed and all the bays remarked. Remember that the Special Authorisation for the Fixed Daily Charge signs was revoked in 2001 and 185,000 parking tickets were issued AFTER that. The council claimed that they had counsel's opinion that said otherwise, but communications from the Department for Transport stated that Newcastle should have been fully aware of the consequences of their actions. Looks like someone needs to challenge this in court ... if the council wish to maintain the position that they are correct.
Meanwhile, the remarking of the bays meant that they could not be enforced until the council gets permission. The are moving from criminalised to civil enforcement ... and can only do so if they reassure the DfT that all their signs, lines and traffic orders are correct ... hence the panic to get everything corected.
They had hoped that no-one would notice. Unfortunately for them we did.
So now it is free parking as shown below. However, if you have had a ticket in the last few weeks we would like to hear ...
Newcastle City Council parking loophole lets drivers off hook Mar 14 2009
by Paul James,
The Journal
LITTLE-KNOWN Government rules have led to a parking free-for-all in the region. Council officials last night admitted they are powerless to enforce regulations governing thousands of parking spaces in the North East.
The rules mean Newcastle City Council is unable to issue parking fines to drivers who park in certain disabled or residential spaces or those allocated for taxis or loading.
It is because council chiefs are preparing for parking enforcement to become a civil, rather then criminal regime, which is expected to be authorised next month.
They have replaced about 3,000 £30 fixed daily charge signs and bay markings across the city in advance of the switch.
But traffic wardens are currently powerless to fine anyone for parking in those bays because the Government is yet to approve the new orders.
Parking campaigners say the council’s admission as a victory for drivers in the city, as well as businesses which will benefit from extra shoppers. But council chiefs last night warned it would be "irresponsible" for people to park in bays meant for disabled people, taxis and for loading.
Parking campaigner Neil Herron, who has previously helped several motorists challenge fines from the £30 signs, said the council was "bang to rights".
Mr Herron said: "We always knew from the outset that this regime was massively flawed, but the council went into a state of denial instead of just accepting it.
"For at least four or five weeks Newcastle businesses are going to benefit and more people are going to come into the city because they’re not going to be punished with parking fines."
The city council said there were "obvious moral issues" with the free parking issue and that "just because people can park in these places, it doesn’t mean that they should".
The council estimates that around 50 loading bays, 100 disabled bays and 50 taxi bays, plus all the city’s residents’ parking spaces, are affected.
Jesmond restaurant Francesca’s, situated within a new residents’ parking scheme, is advertising the free parking in a bid to stop potential customers driving away when they see the road signs.
Boss Giovanni Sardone, whose family have run the business for 25 years, said: "We have regular customers coming from Hexham, Corbridge, all over the place, and they find it hard to get a parking space.
"Customers are saying they can’t find a space and have had to drive away – it’s the major talking point now when people come in.
"We’ve put a big sign in the window to stop people driving away. We think these new rules are going to have a major knock-on effect on the business. We’ve filled 10 pages of a petition – it’s something we really don’t want to happen."
Newcastle Council director of regulatory services and public protection, Stephen Savage, said: "I can confirm that until April 15, when civil parking enforcement is implemented in Newcastle, people who park in disabled bays and other areas like loading bays and taxi ranks cannot be prosecuted."
The complication arises because the council has replaced police signs and markings with its own – meaning that officers can no longer legally enforce the regulations. But the council cannot implement fines either because Government rules state it must give six weeks’ notice of its intent to do so.
Last night, Mr Savage urged drivers to act responsibly.
"There are obvious moral issues here," he said. "Just because people can park in these places it doesn’t mean that they should. It is irresponsible to do so as it affects business and quality of life in the city and directly impacts on vulnerable people in our community.
"Imposing penalties on people who do park in these areas is not a revenue-raising exercise, or something we do out of spite. We do it evenly and without prejudice because it is our job to keep this city moving and make sure people have a convenient, safe and legal place to park."
The Department for Transport confirmed it expected the council to have the necessary powers by April 15.
Westminster parking fines are down by 50 per cent
There are some forward thinking councils who have realised that effective parking enforcement comes from managing the kerbside efficiently. Below is the recent report from Westminster City Council and the reduction in the number of PCNs issued to commercial vehicles is a positive move.
London Informer
The past year has been particularly ambitious for us and has seen some major changes to parking in Westminster.
We have listened to residents and responded by ending the unpopular use of clamping and removal of vehicles.
We have also created more than 2,000 additional, dedicated motorcycle parking bays across the city, and introduced parking cards as an alternative way to pay for parking and are continuing to implement cashless parking across the city.
Further, we have implemented a number of common sense measures.
One of which has resulted in a 50 per cent reduction in the number of tickets issued to commercial vehicles.
Another has given resident permit holders a five-minute allowance to load or unload on single yellow lines.
However, we are not complacent and aim to introduce a number of initiatives to help make parking cheaper, safer and easier in 2009.
These include helping older residents through the provision of discounted parking for carers, providing more spaces for visitors and keeping dropped kerbs free of parked vehicles.
Measures will also be employed to make it easier for businesses to distribute goods and provide essential services across the city and a car club scheme will be implemented as a cheaper and greener alternative to car ownership.
Finally, we know that parking enforcement is not always popular,but with over half-a-million vehicles entering Westminster every day, it is a necessary tool to protect the safety of motorists and pedestrians and to keep traffic moving around the city.
However, we want to ensure that when enforcement is necessary, we are getting it right first time, and if we do get it wrong, that we are using common sense and putting it right quickly.
As the largest parking authority in the UK, Westminster has become the 'blueprint' for improving parking services and we are committed to delivering firm, fair and excellent parking services for all our residents, businesses and visitors.
Cllr Danny Chalkley, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport
Westminster City Council
London Informer
The past year has been particularly ambitious for us and has seen some major changes to parking in Westminster.
We have listened to residents and responded by ending the unpopular use of clamping and removal of vehicles.
We have also created more than 2,000 additional, dedicated motorcycle parking bays across the city, and introduced parking cards as an alternative way to pay for parking and are continuing to implement cashless parking across the city.
Further, we have implemented a number of common sense measures.
One of which has resulted in a 50 per cent reduction in the number of tickets issued to commercial vehicles.
Another has given resident permit holders a five-minute allowance to load or unload on single yellow lines.
However, we are not complacent and aim to introduce a number of initiatives to help make parking cheaper, safer and easier in 2009.
These include helping older residents through the provision of discounted parking for carers, providing more spaces for visitors and keeping dropped kerbs free of parked vehicles.
Measures will also be employed to make it easier for businesses to distribute goods and provide essential services across the city and a car club scheme will be implemented as a cheaper and greener alternative to car ownership.
Finally, we know that parking enforcement is not always popular,but with over half-a-million vehicles entering Westminster every day, it is a necessary tool to protect the safety of motorists and pedestrians and to keep traffic moving around the city.
However, we want to ensure that when enforcement is necessary, we are getting it right first time, and if we do get it wrong, that we are using common sense and putting it right quickly.
As the largest parking authority in the UK, Westminster has become the 'blueprint' for improving parking services and we are committed to delivering firm, fair and excellent parking services for all our residents, businesses and visitors.
Cllr Danny Chalkley, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport
Westminster City Council
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Parking problems in Hull ... this is just the beginning
Lead story on Look North ... parking problems in Hull are the tip of the national iceberg.
The Glenn Dickinson Judicial Review could bring the parking industry to a standstill ... a 'ticking time-bomb' according to one source.
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