Hinckley Info : News and Information

New powers to make parking enforcement more motorist-friendly and reduce disruption or delays when roads are dug up come into force from today as part of the Traffic Management Act, Transport Minister Rosie Winterton has announced.

* PARKING SET TO BECOME FAIRER, CLEARER AND MORE OPEN UNDER NEW SYSTEM INTRODUCED TODAY

* COUNCILS GET MORE POWER TO TACKLE DELAYS AND CONGESTION CAUSED BY STREET WORKS FROM TOMORROW

These new powers will ensure motorists in England benefit from a fairer and more transparent parking framework from today (31 March) while, from tomorrow (1 April), English councils will be able to use new measures to better co-ordinate street works, reducing disruption for all road users, residents and local businesses.

Transport Minister Rosie Winterton said:

"We want to make life better for motorists. Ongoing roadworks and unclear parking enforcement are among road users' biggest concerns. These new powers are designed to tackle both issues and are a key part of the Government's strategy to tackle congestion and keep traffic moving.

"Parking rules exist to help beat congestion and improve road safety, these regulations will help make parking enforcement fairer, clearer and more open.

"Disruption from street works costs the economy about £4.9 billion each year- these strengthened powers will allow councils to better co-ordinate when work happens on their roads. We are tackling the frustration of roads being dug up time and time again and at the busiest times - reducing disruption for all road users, residents and local businesses."

The new parking framework makes it clear that councils should not use parking enforcement as a tool for raising revenue or set targets for the number of tickets issued. Furthermore, councils are strongly advised to only use wheel-clamping against those who persistently evade their penalty charges.

The framework encourages councils to tackle the parking behaviour that causes most disruption or danger to other road users - such as unauthorised parking in spaces for disabled people, at pedestrian crossings, or on yellow lines. Councils must issue lower penalties for other, less serious, parking offences. Details of how to appeal must be included on parking tickets. Independent parking adjudicators will also get more power, including the right to ask local authorities to reconsider penalty charges where motorists have mitigating circumstances.

Under the new street works regulations councils will be able to insist that utility companies give longer notice periods before starting works - improving co-ordination and making it possible to prevent multiple works in different streets in the same area at the same time.

Councils will also be able to impose conditions on works, such as a ban on rush hour working and will also be to operate a permit scheme - meaning that anyone wanting to dig up the road will have to apply for a permit that will set out specific durations for the work and conditions of how and when it is carried out. Different companies may even use the same trench when carrying out works. Councils will be able to penalise utility companies that break the conditions.