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Suburban Parking Enforcement Severely Lacking
July 10, 2008 12:01 PM
Dear Sir,
One of the most frequent complaints I get from residents is about the lack of parking enforcement in suburban areas. In some places, such as the centre of Westbury village, on roads around Southmead hospital or in congested areas of Horfield there are very real problems with people parking on yellow lines, or across driveways or junctions.
On the other hand in the centre of Bristol parking tickets are being issued at a record rate. The Liberal Democrats have discovered that, nationally, there are more than three times as many tickets issued by Councils (and the private firms they contract to) since local authorities took over parking enforcement from the police.
The result is more tickets and fines in the centre of town and yet a traffic warden is never to be seen in the suburbs.
It is time for a greater balance. Of course parking enforcement is vital in the city centre, and yet I am not alone in wondering if it is more about raising money for the Council then genuinely penalising illegal parking.
Perhaps some of the parking wardens could be asked to patrol roads in Westbury-on-Trym, Horfield and Southmead and at least show residents that the Council is taking their complaints seriously. I also think this is something that new police community support officers might assist with.
Otherwise the message is clear. Accidentally overstay your parking at a meter in town and get a ticket; however park on a yellow line and hold up traffic outside the centre and you can do so with impunity.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Harrod
Liberal Democrat Prospective MP, Bristol North West
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