Warwickshire News Mine

In line with government policy, responsibility for the enforcement of on-street waiting restrictions will pass from Warwickshire Police to Warwickshire County Council.

Parking offences will cease to be a criminal matter and become a civil matter instead. Warwick District Council will operate the scheme on behalf of the county council under a partnership agreement.

And in a bid to explain to proposals to local people exhibitions are being held from this weekend to display the proposed extended resident parking zone areas and on-street pay and display at the following locations:

Leamington:  Royal Priors Shopping Centre on 10-11 November
Front of All Saints Parish Church on 13-14 November
Kenilworth: Abbey End on 15-16 November
Warwick: Market Square on 17-18 November

The exhibitions will be open from 10.00am – 6.00pm and will be staffed by officers of Warwickshire County Council and Warwick District Council. They will provide the public with the opportunity to talk about the scheme face to face with these officers.

There will also be displays of detailed plans for a four-week consultation period from today until 7th December, at:
Shire Hall and Warwick Library.
Leamington Town Hall and Riverside House.
Kenilworth Library

The initiative is an integral part of Warwickshire County Council’s Local Transport Plan and is being rolled out throughout the county. Similar schemes have already been introduced in Stratford on Avon District in 2004, and in Rugby Borough in October of this year. It is planned to introduce it across Warwick District during the third quarter of 2007.

Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “The county council will soon be applying to the Government to take on the responsibility for parking, from Warwickshire Police, in Warwick District.

“Following Stratford, Rugby Borough last month became the second of the main areas in Warwickshire that was decriminalised, as part of our county-wide transport improvement strategy.

“If the proposed changes go through, residents, traders, visitors and shoppers will quickly see the environmental benefits to our town centres. The aim is to speed up turnover of cars parking in those spaces available near the shops by the introduction of on street pay & display charging. Many residents should also find it easier to park, as others will have to comply with parking restrictions in their zones.

“Other towns such as Northampton and Winchester have introduced similar schemes and have seen an increase in the vitality of their town centres. We want to ensure the economic vitality and sustainability of Warwickshire towns and this is an important step in that direction.

“We expect that the majority of people will see effective parking control and enforcement as a benefit for everyone using the town centres."

He said the advantages of effective parking enforcement are many. Parking places will generally be easier to find, resulting in better movement of traffic and a consequent reduction in pollution. Road safety will be improved, particularly at junctions where illegally parked vehicles can block the view of pedestrians and other drivers.

Access will be improved for emergency vehicles, public transport and refuse collection. The enforcement of Limited Waiting restrictions within resident parking zones will make it easier for residents to park nearer to their own homes during the working day.

Pay and display machines will be introduced on-street across the District, in Kenilworth, Warwick and Leamington town centres. This will help to improve turnover of parking in commercial streets and provide a deterrent to parking by non-residents in some streets close to the town centres.

Enforcement of pay & display, limited waiting areas and yellow lines will discourage those vehicles currently parking all day in such streets. Alternative all day parking is available in off-street car parks across the District by purchasing either daily or season tickets.

Residents in residential parking zones will be able to buy up to three resident permits plus one visitor permit per household. The cost of the first resident permit and of the visitor permit will be £15 each, Additional residents permits (maximum of 2) will be £25 each.

Each resident permit will be for a specific registration number, but the visitor permit may be used on any visiting vehicle. A letter outlining the proposals is being sent to each resident within the proposed resident parking zones.

The three Traffic Wardens and eleven Car Park Inspectors in the District will be replaced by a team of thirty uniformed Parking Attendants, providing much more effective control of parking.

A dedicated website http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/decrim is being set up explaining the details of the scheme and showing plans of the proposals.

Link to WCC