BREAD WINNERS

More and more UK local authorities are taking control of parking regulation enforcement. This article discusses how often they can generate a surplus of funds. So far, only 25 authorities have had such schemes approved by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR). However, another 120 councils could have proposals awaiting approval, and it is possible that, eventually, every council will decriminalise parking offences. The 1991 Road Traffic Act allows urban councils to designate Special Parking Areas (SPAs), but this option was not enforced in London until 1994 and made available to other councils until 1995. The process of obtaining permission to decriminalise parking involves local consultation and reaching agreement with the police; it ends with the DETR granting a designation order. Once such an order is in place, a council is supposed to take over responsibility for all parking enforcement in its area and break even financially. It has to absorb any financial loss made, and is allowed to spend any surplus on further parking measures, or improving public transport and roads. The fine that councils can charge for parking offences is fixed by law, but it has not been increased for nearly a decade; this is one reason why many councils have been reluctant to adopt decriminalisation.

  • Availability:
  • Corporate Authors:

    Hemming Group, Limited

    32 Vauxhall Bridge Road
    London,   United Kingdom  SW1V 2SS
  • Authors:
    • SHERRINGTON, M
  • Publication Date: 2000-6-15

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Pagination: p. 12-4
  • Serial:
    • SURVEYOR
    • Volume: 187
    • Issue Number: 5586
    • Publisher: Hemming Group, Limited
    • ISSN: 0039-6303

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00798034
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
  • Files: ITRD
  • Created Date: Sep 8 2000 12:00AM