Zealous Parking Wardens

[Graham Jones]

Sir, [to Acc Observer 15 Mar 05]

I have been comparing the Councils budget and quotes by the Conservative Leader of the Council Peter Britcliffe over On & Off Street Parking Fines. Cllr Britcliffe accused the wardens of being 'over zealous' and that he would take issue with Lancashire County Council. The 'its always somebody else's fault' scenario.

Funny then that on the same day that the papers were printing his 'so called concerns', he was urging his Tory colleagues to earn an extra £27,500 in street parking fines despite knowing that the wardens had exceeded their quota so far.

These figures can be found tucked away in the final budget papers in appendix 4 under the section budget savings, entitled 'increased income from on street & off street parking fines'.

[chav1]

if they are giving tickets out to cars that are not illigaly parked in the town centre then that is wrong and they should be sacked and the drivers refunded the money

however saying that if the are giving tickets to people parked illigaly then the more the merryer

rules are rules if u dont want a ticket dont park illigaly its not rocket science to figure out parking on yellows when a traffiic warden is about = fine

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Graham Jones

Sir, [to Acc Observer 15 Mar 05]

Cllr Britcliffe accused the wardens of being 'over zealous'

They don't appear very zealous at 9am ish outside Hippings school when people are parking and dropping children off on the yellow zig zags.

[mani]

i went to london recently and for the first time ever i got travel sick - i never have - not even on a 12 hr flight. so naturally i redecorated the steering wheel, the front screen, the speed display and the side glove compartment where my parkin disc was resting

i had to throw it away and then the other day i went to town parkin behind kwik save but obviously i had no disc and after hearin a few times ppl not having disc and gettin fines i was sure i wud get one - i darent park there...

so i had to literally ask a person i knew to run into the town hall and get me one rather than risk it

i'm having trouble makin ends meet let alone havin to fill the council's coffers

[Neil]

Originally Posted by mani

i darent park there...

You can park on the 2 top levels of the Arndale without a disc all day. Then pick one up for next time.

Originally Posted by mani

havin to fill the council's coffers

Rules are rules - break them and pay the consequence.
A parking warden does not know the reason you have parked with no disc/illegally so you will get a ticket.
I have heard of people getting a ticket for taking up 2 spaces in the car park - sounds fair to me, people should park with consideration for others.

[Neil]

I personally think the warden scheme is a joke.

They are only interested in the town centre - ring them and report a dangerously parked car and find out the response 0845 053 0012 ( 8am till 6pm only).

Ring the police and they say its the wardens job not the police. I dont think they have read the Parwise web site at http://www.parkwise.org.uk/

Are the Police still involved with parking issues?

Yes, the Police will retain responsibility for endorsable parking enforcement issues (points on your licence) including parking on pelican and zebra crossings, obstruction of the highway and school keep-clears.

If someone has parked and they are not on a waiting restriction but are obstructing a footpath, highway or access to your property only the Police can deal with this.

[Neil]

I spoke with Parkwise this morning. I was told that yellow zig zags might not be enforcable in Hyndburn.

I think I will email them this link to the Highway Code
You MUST NOT wait or park where there are restrictions shown by

* yellow lines along the edge of the carriageway (see Along the edge of the carriageway section)
* school entrance markings on the carriageway

[park381]

Originally Posted by weeble

They don't appear very zealous at 9am ish outside Hippings school when people are parking and dropping children off on the yellow zig zags.

There was an article in a recent Observer, where a headteacher, and the local community beat manager (local bobby) were expressing concern about the same thing. Great Harwood I think, the beat manager indicated that tickets would be issued if parents did not comply with the highway code. It is a criminal offence.
Having said that it's not only Hippings, St Marys is just as bad if not worse, it's on a main road.

[Neil]

I had a barney with a stupid coach driver who was parked on the zig zags outside St Marys at 9am one morning. His excuse was that there was nowhere else to park. I suggested he switched his brain on and did not arrive till 10 past nine when all the cars had gone.

Hippings is the same on wednesday mornings I think it is with a coach waiting before 9am - utter madness. The head teachers have a duty of care to the children and should police the parking themselves - or at least phone the police every morning it occurs.

No warnings just fine the drivers each and every time. 50 names in the observer would soon stop it happening and would be easy in just one week in Hyndburn. It would only take a couple of police 15 mins each morning at different schools to get that many.

Maybe I am being simplistic again or is it the Police can't even come up with a simple solution like that. Then again I have seen them trying. Parked outside school in a marked car, stood outside in full hi-vis gear and no-one parked. Maybe it will have to be a job for CID or perhaps MI5

[WillowTheWhisp]

Originally Posted by weeble

I spoke with Parkwise this morning. I was told that yellow zig zags might not be enforcable in Hyndburn.

Is Hyndburn a law unto itself?

When the old Springhill School was still there in Exchange Street parents used to park outside the school gates, on the zigzags waiting to collect their offspring at the end of the school day. On more than one occasion notes were sent home with children and police paid visits to request that people refrain from doing so.

It never made a ha'porth of difference - so when the police drove by and saw the cars still parking there, why didn't they do something?

[Neil]

The police amaze me at their inabillity to sort out these minor issues. It is no surprise that many people think they are useless and dont bother to report crimes etc.

[park381]

Originally Posted by weeble

The police amaze me at their inabillity to sort out these minor issues. It is no surprise that many people think they are useless and dont bother to report crimes etc.

Have spoken to ossy's community beat manager about the subject,and the continual problems with cars parked close to the juction of rhyddings street and union road on yellow lines, I was told it's not our problem, it's the local councils problem. Last week the yellow lines were repainted, I thought ah were are going to see the wardens in ossy. No chance, infact this week there was one of those large pickup truck parked on the pavement right on the junction adjacent to the hairdressers, shame I'd no camera with me.

[Neil]

Read this :

Are the Police still involved with parking issues?

Yes, the Police will retain responsibility for endorsable parking enforcement issues (points on your licence) including parking on pelican and zebra crossings, obstruction of the highway and school keep-clears.

If someone has parked and they are not on a waiting restriction but are obstructing a footpath, highway or access to your property only the Police can deal with this.



From here then contact the community manager let her read it then suggest the next training course she goes on is one that teaches her about the LAW. Parking at the bottom of Rhyddings like you describe is obsructing the junction. The police have retained all their powers - they just dont want to use them.

[park381]

Originally Posted by weeble

Read this :

Are the Police still involved with parking issues?

Yes, the Police will retain responsibility for endorsable parking enforcement issues (points on your licence) including parking on pelican and zebra crossings, obstruction of the highway and school keep-clears.

If someone has parked and they are not on a waiting restriction but are obstructing a footpath, highway or access to your property only the Police can deal with this.

Yes I know that, you know that, but the police don't or don't want to know, it will mean them filling out a report Years back I parked outside what is now village pantry, was then a paper shop, went in to get a paper, came out and there he was a PC, on Foot, with his notebook in hand, yes I got a ticket In those days they did seem to walk.That's something you don't see now

[park381]

Just been down in to accrington, guess what, a green cap was just booking a taxi parked on yellow lines outside the halifax b.s. So they are out and about in the town centre today............be warned