Powys County Council hands out 1,500 parking tickets
Friday 8th July 2011, 2:08PM BST.
More than 1,500 parking tickets have been handed out to motorists in Mid Wales since Powys County Council took over enforcement from police three months ago.
The new council traffic wardens have been bran-ded “too strict” and “inconsistent” by angry drivers and councillors.
There have been claims in Welshpool, Newtown and Presteigne as well as Machynlleth that parking officers are being overzealous with handing out parking fines.
Powys County Council said between April 1 and June 30 its Civil Enforcement Officers issued 1,522 parking tickets.
In Newtown, the leader of the town’s 21st Century Action Group, said you “never know where you stand” with the wardens.
Philip Glynn said: “They are so inconsistent. Some days they are incredibly strict and some days you won’t see them at all.”
Before April, Powys had three traffic wardens and 10 council-run public car park monitors. Now there are nine civil enforcement officers monitoring on and off-street parking.
In Presteigne, there are claims elderly drivers are reluctant to park in the high street for fear of receiving a ticket.
Lee Evans, Powys County Council spokesman, said: “We are aware of the claims that the civil parking enforcement officers are enforcing the existing parking regulations in an over-zealous manner but we have received no specific complaints on this issue.
“Our civil parking enforcement officers are fully trained and have the appropriate qualifications to enable them to carry out any enforcement action that is required and any enforcement action that is taken is appropriate and proportionate to the offence.”
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“Too strict”–”over zealous”?
What exactly does this mean? Are they handing out tickets to people who are parked quite legally? If so, they can get their money back.
If, on the other hand, they are booking people who ARE parked illegally, then tough luck. No parking zones are clearly designated, if drivers choose to ignore these notices then they must take the consequences.
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The traders in Machynlleth are not happy as they cannot park in the short stay bays all day any more – meaning that patrons of their businesses can! Maybe they dont want people to shop with them?
The situation for Parking outside IG Owen in Machynlleth has been so much better since Powys took over enforcement. On monday I saw a car in one of the short stay bays outside the ironmongers with a ticket at lunchtime. The same vehicle was still there at 5pm. Well done Powys for enforcing the parking regulations allowing people to park near the shops!
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