Proper fair parking enforcement ... it can be done

Credit where credit is due and here is one council who is getting it right ... and has recognised that they are providing a service. Well done Chorley.

SUCCESSFUL PARKING CONTRACT EXTENDED
By Karenh2009
Monday, May 10, 2010, 12:27

A FRIENDLY approach to parking in Chorley that has seen the number of penalty tickets drop by more than a third is set to stay saving taxpayers an extra £10,000 per year.

Civil Enforcement Officers monitoring the town centre car parks for Chorley Council in their red uniform.

After a successful first year in which complaints and penalty tickets have reduced dramatically Chorley Council will be extending its contract with Legion Group for at least four years.

Councillor Peter Goldsworthy, Leader of Chorley Council, said: “Since we took back control of parking enforcement in our town centre car parks we have noticed a real improvement in the way things have been done and that is down to our partnership with Legion Group.

“We know that if someone has a bad experience on one of our car parks they may not come back to visit but if we get it right it will send out a really positive message that Chorley is a friendly place for shoppers.”

A new system of parking enforcement and administration was introduced in September when Chorley Council pulled out of the controversial Parkwise scheme.

The Council’s 13 town centre pay-and-display car parks are now monitored by the Legion Group, with IT company Chipside carrying out the back office administration.

Since the change penalty tickets on the council’s car parks have reduced by 38 per cent with the number of complaints also falling.

“We’re delighted that we will be continuing to work with Legion and the new contract will save us an extra £10,000 per year on top of the £25,000 annual savings since we took the service in-house,” said Coun Goldsworthy.

Tony Goddard, Head of Parking for Legion Group, said “We are proud of the reputation we have for the provision of a friendly, customer orientated parking service and are delighted to be working with Chorley Council for the next four years.”

On street parking, this covers all parking restrictions and regulations outside of the town’s pay-and-display car parks, remains under the control of Lancashire County Council.

People can easily identify the different Civil Enforcement Officers – the ones working for Chorley Council and monitoring the car parks wear a red uniform and those working for Lancashire County Council wear blue.

For more information about parking visit www.chorley.gov.uk/parking.