Paying the price of poor parking

Motorists are still willing to risk getting a fine for parking their cars dangerously or illegally in and around Newark, according to latest figures.

It is just over two years since Newark and Sherwood District Council took control of enforcing on-street parking regulations, but many drivers still think they can get away with bad parking.

As a result, more than £261,000 in on-street and off-street parking fines was collected in the year to April.

This is a rise on the previous year, when more than £224,000 was collected.

The council’s environment manager, Mr Alan Batty, said: “Before its introduction, the streets of Newark town centre in particular were affected by illegal and sometimes dangerous parking, as residents took advantage of a lack of enforcement of traffic regulation orders.”

Before the changes, handing out parking tickets was a low priority for Nottinghamshire Police, which meant many motorists parked illegally as it was unlikely they would receive a ticket.

Mr Batty said: “Now it is certainly the case, as the figures show, that those who flout the parking rules run a serious risk of receiving a penalty-charge notice from a civil enforcement officer.

“Unfortunately, people do not appear to be getting the message.

“It is well known that regular enforcement takes place in Newark, Southwell and Ollerton town centres, yet penalty-charge notices continue to be handed out without any obvious decrease in numbers.

“While some accept it as a business expense, others feel they can just get away with it.

“Those who continue to take a risk should know that, as long as they break the rules, we will continue to issue fines, as it is vital that our roads and carparks remain clear and safe.”

In the year to April, the worst month for flouting the rules was May 2009, when £22,295 was collected in fines, while the best month was January of this year, when £18,080 was collected.

When civil parking enforcement was first introduced, some were worried that it was just a way for councils to make money, but in the first year it almost broke even.

The income was higher this year largely because there was a running-in period at the start of the scheme’s first year, when fewer fines were issued.

The district council’s community services manager, Mr Jim Besson, said at the time that the main aim of civil parking enforcement was not to make money but to reduce traffic congestion, and improve road safety and the environment.

He said any income after running costs would go towards keeping down the district’s council tax.