16 March 2005
DRIVERS GIVEN ADVANCE WARNING AS PARKSAFE COMES INTO
FORCE
Parking attendants employed by Havant Borough Council will
start patrolling the streets and car parks in your neighbourhoods
this week in the lead up to Parksafe coming into force.
At the moment if drivers park on double yellow lines, stay too
long in spaces with a time limit, or leave their vehicles in
disabled bays without displaying a badge it is treated as a
criminal offence and dealt with by the police or traffic wardens.
But all that is about to change.
On April 4 parking in the borough will be decriminalised and
the council will take responsibility for enforcing parking
regulations on streets and in car parks.
"By tackling dangerous and inconsiderate parking, the Parksafe
team will make the borough's roads and pavements safer for
everyone, whether you get around on foot, on your bike or in a
car," said Bob Castle, Parking Services Manager. "But before
Parksafe comes into force we want to make sure residents know the
change is coming and warn drivers they will find parking
regulations will be more strictly enforced under the new
system."
So in the lead up to April 4, parking attendants will be
putting leaflets on all the vehicles they find breaking parking
regulations.
The leaflets will tell drivers about Parksafe and warn them if
they carry on breaching parking regulations from April 4 they will
be given a Penalty Charge Notice and will have to pay £60, which
will be reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.
By enforcing parking regulations, the Parksafe team aims to
make the borough a safer place by dealing with dangerous parking,
as well as helping to keep traffic flowing, improving access to
homes and businesses and keeping public transport on the
move.
Although the parking attendants' main job will be enforcing
parking regulations, the team will also be reporting things like
graffiti, fly tipping, potholes and faulty streetlights, helping to
get problems cleaned up quickly.
"Parksafe gives us the chance to improve life for everyone in
the borough by making sure neighbourhoods are cleaner and safer,"
added Bob Castle.