Telford parking enforcement move welcomed

Councillor Nicola Lowery, ward member for Ironbridge Gorge, said the borough's residents had previously not had their concerns over illegal and unsafe parking prioritised.

West Mercia Police officers currently have the responsibility to enforce the law, but often do not have the resources to do so. It means many issues with illegal parking in the borough go unpunished.

But now the council has applied for the powers to be transferred to them, and plan to set up a team to both control traffic and monitor other environmental issues in the town.

Unsafe

Councillor Lowery said: “We have one of the fastest growing populations and as we continue to expand it is essential that parking enforcement powers are devolved from the Government to provide the council with the capabilities to respond positively to community needs and school concerns over illegal and unsafe parking across our borough. These needs have not been previously prioritised.

"However, I am thrilled that our coordinated approach to secure a sustainable and educationally focussed scheme that will benefit our borough has finally been progressed to benefit our residents in Telford & Wrekin."

She said it was of no surprise that so many people had responded to the council's consultation on the plans.

Hundreds of people replied, pointing out issues with illegal parking across the borough, especially around schools.

Schools

"It comes as no surprise that the council’s consultation confirmed that there are illegal parking hot spots across our borough, particularly outside of schools, misuse of disabled parking bays along with a problem with on street parking," Councillor Lowery said.

"This has been apparent for many years to many people in the Borough. In the Ironbridge Gorge we face significant issues with on street parking and irresponsible parking outside our schools and it is now time that the council takes responsibility for ensuring safe and responsible parking.

“The financial commitment of £200,000 in grant funding from our West Mercia police and crime commissioner provides vital transitional funding to ensure that the scheme is feasible and cost effective to the tax payer in the long term, as it is imperative that the scheme is not profit driven and takes an educational approach to ensure responsible and safe parking in Telford & Wrekin."