News & Views!News & Views

Stay Off the Lines Avoid Fine

Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council is taking over the powers to enforce yellow line parking restrictions on 21st January.  The authority now employs more Parking Attendants to patrol both its car parks as well as the streets to deal with the problems caused by bad and dangerous parking.

The Council has taken on these powers in order to:

  • Eliminate dangerous and inconsiderate parking.

Other benefits expected are:

  • Main roads will be kept clear of illegally parked vehicles, thereby reducing congestion
  • Emergency services vehicles will be less likely to find their route blocked
  • At bus stops, buses will be able to pull into the kerb more easily, making it easier for disabled people and those with pushchairs or heavy shopping to get on and off safely
  • Benefits for disabled drivers - increased enforcement will ensure that parking spaces designated for Blue Badge holders are not occupied by non-entitled vehicles
Double Yellow Lines and other restrictions are routinely ignored by motorists in Crewe and Nantwich.  An independent survey for Cheshire County Council confirmed what has been suspected as a growing problem for many years.

In the most used central streets of the town, there were more than 135 illegal parking acts in one day and these included:

  • Widespread parking on double yellow lies (No Waiting At Any Time)
  • Vehicles parked illegally in disabled bays without displaying a blue badge
  • Frequent illegal parking in pedestrianised areas
  • Parking problems in the suburbs and villages of the Borough

Borough Councillor John Hammond, Portfolio Holder for the Local Environment, said:  “The problem of illegal parking on our streets has been steadily increasing for years.  It causes inconvenience to all road users and is a threat to road safety, not to mention the detriment to the environment.  We’re pleased to be taking action in partnership with the County Council -which is the Highways Authority  - to put a stop to this inconsiderate behaviour.”

Paul Burns, the Council’s Business Manager who is managing the transfer of powers from the Police, said:  “The Council will be using its in-house team of Parking Attendants to enforce the existing rules.  They will not operate under any kind of a bonus or incentive scheme and will be totally answerable to the Borough Council.  Moreover, the Council’s Enforcement Service will follow the Government’s latest guidelines for parking enforcement.  Money from fines will be used, first, to pay for the service itself and any surplus is strictly ring-fenced, by law, for renovation of car parks or other transport services.”

“So”, said Mr. Burns, “everyone should take this as reminder to park safely and considerately, to ‘Stay off the Yellow Lines and avoid a fine!’”

More information and questions and answers can be found online at -

 www.crewe-nantwich.gov.uk/parkright

ENDS

COUNCIL CONTACT: Paul Burns – Business Development Manager
TELEPHONE -  01270 537805

MEDIA CONTACT: Ian Richardson
TELEPHONE -  01270 537018

news.views@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk

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