Parking wardens operating in Stafford Borough have dished out almost 700 tickets in the past month.
The council attendants are clamping down on hardcore repeat offenders in the town following changes to the enforcement system.
At the beginning of November the responsibility shifted from the police to local authorities and since then a total 670 motorists have returned to their vehicles to find the dreaded sticky envelop slapped on their car window.
The county council came up with Staffordshire’s Clear Streets policy which is being followed to the letter by new local attendants.
The authority wants to obliterate parking on double yellow lines which is blamed for aggravating for communities, causing congestion and pollution and making the roads dangerous.
A detailed 98-point instruction manual for wardens has been created. It covers every excuse a canny motorist could think off including broken pay and display machines, lost keys and extra-long visit to the doctor. Fines are up from £60 to £90, but the rate for prompt payment remains at £30.
Parking Board chairman Robin Studd said: “These regulations exists to keep traffic flowing and to ensure emergency services can get through.”
In Stafford the new ticketing teams have not gone down well. Residents in Rowley Street are holding public meetings to discuss what they can do about their dilemma.
They say they are currently forced to park on the street.
8 Comments
Don’t break the law and you won’t get a ticket.
If Bozos’ aren’t intelligent enough to understand that then they shouldn’t be driving anyway.
Just wait and see how many motorists are hit with fines now that there is a fibnancial incentive for the council … they keep the money now don’t forget.
‘Don’t break the law and you won’t get a ticket’ … and when the council gets caught out breaking the law with non-compliant signs and Traffic Orders?
Just watch as customers are driven out of town and local businesses are hammered …
Cue bleating from the motorists ‘suffering’ self-inflicted wounds. Andy, I totally agree - don’t break the rules and you won’t get fined. IT’S THAT SIMPLE!
If you’re fined you either don’t understand the Highway Code or you’re a chancer who can’t accept the results of your actions because you’re a selfish moron. For some, even a parking fine doesn’t get the message through their thick skulls!
Stafford has been a soft touch for parking for years. No traffic wardens - it has been common knowledge that you can park all day in a 30 min space. Look in Mill St or Tipping St and see the same cars parked at 5pm that were there at 9am. Shop workers and council employees your days are numbered. Well done the Borough Council.
Another easy tax.
The government seems to have stayed too long Iraq..are we to take it that by the same measure, this government will be fined for illegally occupying space? The laws in this country are like the cameras: they work one way only and wow betide anyone who steps out of line.
Perhaps the people who get issued with a fine could then go on to be issued with a 50% discount voucher to use the M6 toll, as these are probably the ones who join the motorway and sit in one lane until they reach their chosen junction….
Maybe some one would like to ask the Patrol officer who was asked to assist me when someone illegally parked blocking me in a disabled bay why he said”not my problem” call the police.He issued no ticket or called for help for me.He walked off up the road into marks and spencers .Must have been his lunch break!
The police did not attend eventually two very nice soldiers came and bumped the morons car out of the way.
They obviously arent that interested and to the owner of the Blue Golf..thank you hope you pumped your tyres up!