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Parking tickets on the decline in Walsall

The number of parking tickets issued in Walsall has dropped as money raked in slumped by more than £150,000 over the last two years.

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The amount of penalty charge notices given to drivers has consistently decreased during the last 12 months going from 1,403 last April to 1,159 in the same month this year.

It comes as Walsall Council has launched a month-long Drive Smart, Park Right campaign to encourage motorists not to break the law and insists it does not treat parking as a 'cash cow.'

Tickets are issued for a range of offences from staying too long in car parks or on-street bays to being on double yellow lines.

See also: Dudley parking charges hike to come into force.

Between April and July 2013 there were a combination of 5,838 fines handed out to motorists, compared to 4,845 in the four months this year.

In total during the last financial year there were 16,386 penalty charge notices given to people for on and off-street parking offences. These range from £25 to £70 relating to the offence and payment within 14 days.

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Council chiefs have insisted the main aim is to get drivers to comply with the borough's parking regulations.

The authority says the amount of notices issued to off-street council council controlled car parking spaces has steadily declined month-by-month.

They have encouraged motorists to comply by moving vehicles on and explain the reasons why rather than issue a PCN. However, there has been a fall income from £1.44m in 2011/12 to £1.28m in 2013/14.

Walsall transport chief, councillor Lee Jeavons, said: "There's this perception that councils use the issuing of parking fines or PCNs as a bit of a cash cow.

"But whilst we can't speak on behalf of other local authorities, that's definitely not the case in Walsall.

See also: Parking ticket numbers soar across Cannock Chase.

"It's a horrible feeling when you receive a PCN and believe me that's never our goal.

"We have a duty to ensure traffic regulations are upheld in Walsall, we prefer to help motorists understand these laws, rather than punish them with a ticket.

"There will always be those persistent offenders who have no consideration for other road users and pedestrians.

"But the goal of the campaign is to drive up compliance and it's a bold step we're taking."

As part of the Drive Smart, Park Right campaign staff from Apcoa, which operates parking enforcement on behalf of the council, have been patrolling streets near schools and giving advice rather than tickets to parents.

A parking awareness course will also also be run by the authority later in the month.

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