{"id":54802,"date":"2015-03-06T10:08:00","date_gmt":"2015-03-06T10:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=35db91011d4d1aa435f2bafe87b5a027"},"modified":"2015-03-06T13:33:16","modified_gmt":"2015-03-06T13:33:16","slug":"press-release-government-delivers-on-parking-promises-to-help-local-shops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=54802","title":{"rendered":"Press release: Government delivers on parking promises to help local shops"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated:<\/em> Added ‘Local authority income from sales, fees and charges on parking charges, 2013 to 2014’ PDF.<\/p>\n

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Parking measures that put common sense back in the driving seat have been given the green-light today (6 March 2015) by Local Government and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin <\/p>\n

Under the new laws to help local shops, drivers will get a 10 minute grace period when parked in a bay. This will prevent fines for being just a few minutes late back to the vehicle \u2013 be it in a paid or free parking space.<\/p>\n

And the use of CCTV<\/abbr> \u2018spy cars\u2019 has been banned in the majority of circumstances ending the tyranny of automated fines landing on doorsteps and being issued in industrial volumes<\/p>\n

The measures stop over-zealous parking enforcement which often forces people to shop in out-of-town centres or online and were approved in the last reading of parking reforms in the Deregulation Bill<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Other measures protecting drivers include new powers for parking adjudicators so they can hold councils to account to tackle parking problems such as poor signage at specific locations. <\/p>\n

And a powerful new right<\/a> enables residents and local firms to demand that their council reviews parking in their area, including the charges and use of yellow lines. <\/p>\n

There will also be tougher rules against heavy-handed action by bailiffs and an end to fines at out-of-order parking meters when there is no alternative way to pay. Guidance<\/a> will also reinforce that councils cannot use parking to make a profit. <\/p>\n

Councils were also asked to volunteer to trial a new pilot that allows motorists challenging a parking ticket to benefit from a 25% discount on the fine if they lose the appeal. Currently drivers are only offered a discount on early payment before challenging a ticket. <\/p>\n

The parking measures are a victory for drivers and one of a number of initiatives introduced by the government to support high streets and give local shops a fairer deal.<\/p>\n

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: <\/p>\n

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We are ending the war on drivers who simply want to go about their daily business. For too long parking rules have made law-abiding motorists feel like criminals, and caused enormous damage to shops and businesses.<\/p>\n

Over-zealous parking enforcement undermines our town centres and costs councils more in the long-term. Our measures not only bring big benefits for high streets, motorists and local authorities – they put common sense back into parking.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: <\/p>\n

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Helping local businesses thrive is a key part of our long-term economic plan. These measures will deliver a fairer deal for motorists and help boost the high street by ensuring that parking enforcement is proportionate, while also protecting school children and keeping key routes and bus lanes clear.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Further information<\/h2>\n

The cross-government Deregulation Bill<\/a> passed its Third Reading in the House of Lords on Wednesday 4 March 2015 and Royal Assent of the Bill is expected shortly. <\/p>\n

Parking measures instigated by the Department for Communities and Local Government that passed the Third Reading include a ban on the use of \u2018CCTV<\/abbr>\u2019 for issuing automated fines except in those no-parking areas around schools, bus stops, bus lanes and red routes. These will be commenced after Royal Assent, and come into force in April; the draft secondary legislation<\/a> is being published today.<\/p>\n

The Department for Communities and Local Government is also laying a statutory instrument granting \u201810 minute parking grace periods\u2019. This applies to paid for or free parking spaces both on-street and off-street (in council owned car parks and similar). This has been signed by Eric Pickles and will come into force later this month.<\/p>\n

The Department for Transport is publishing revised statutory guidance<\/a> that ensures that:<\/p>\n