30 June 2010

Labour exposes Council parking permit scandal

Labour Councillors in Plymouth have discovered that Plymouth City Council continues to take money from local residents for permit parking when it is aware that many of those schemes are illegal.

A recent court judgement found that many of the white lines on residential parking schemes in Plymouth have been wrongly painted, rendering them illegal. Labour understands that the judgement affects people who have had parking tickets issued for leaving their cars in residential parking schemes but may also apply to ordinary on-street schemes too.

At least 60% of the council's schemes are affected.

The council has instructed its Civil Enforcement Officers (traffic wardens) right across the city to stop issuing parking tickets to people without permits parking in residential parking schemes. An unspecified but significant number of on-street parking bays have also been incorrectly lined and are to all intents and purposes not valid.

The Council is aware of the problem but has no plans to refund permit holders for not patrolling what they pay £25 a year for. There will also be a huge loss of income until the lining is made legal. This work has not yet been ordered by the council, despite the court ruling a week ago.

Cllr Brian Vincent, Labour's Shadow Cabinet member for Transport said: "Its another shambles for Cabinet member Kevin Wigens. He recently put up parking charges by 5 times the rate of inflation saying it was essential. Now we discover he is taking money from residents for parking patrols but has stopped those patrollers from providing the service he's charging for. It's a scandal."