NEWS RELEASES
Local Authority Parking Enforcement starts 23 January
18th January 2006
ON Monday (23 January 2006), Horsham District Council, in partnership with the West Sussex County Council, is introducing Local Authority Parking Enforcement (LAPE) with parking attendants employed by the district council and replacing Sussex Police traffic wardens.
At the same time, neighbouring Mid Sussex District Council is also introducing LAPE along with the county council.
In the Horsham District, the new responsibilities come on top of Horsham District Council’s existing management of off street car parking in Council car parks.
From Monday, the number of parking attendants will increase up to nine with a maximum of thirteen in total being employed later on. They will be working throughout the Horsham District in towns and villages.
Among the key aims of the new parking enforcement arrangements are safer, less congested streets together with the ability to deal more quickly with areas where inconsiderate parking is creating serious problems.
LAPE should also help high streets throughout the District by making sure short-term parking areas designed for shoppers do not get clogged up by all-day parking.
Added to this, the introduction of Local Authority Parking Enforcement will allow the police to concentrate more of its resources on crime, anti-social behaviour and major traffic issues.
At the same time, the new parking attendants will also act as a highly visible uniformed presence on the streets that will contribute towards community safety by reporting incidents and problems associated with anti-social behaviour, littering and the need for repairs in the street scene.
In terms of the income derived from parking enforcement, this will now be retained by the local authorities to meet the running costs of LAPE so that the costs do not fall on Council Tax payers. Any surplus income would be spent locally on public transport and parking facilities.
Speaking of the advent of Local Authority Parking Enforcement in the Horsham District, Councillor David Jenkins, Cabinet Member for Strategic Land Use Planning at Horsham District Council, said:
“I would like to emphasise that once the District and County Council become the new parking enforcement authorities from Monday, the vast majority of motorists who park legally should see no change.
“Time and again, we have received feedback from concerned residents and shopkeepers about inconsiderate and illegal parking and our new powers will help reduce congestion, improve safety and tackle parking abuse.
“Our parking attendants will provide the required level of supervision across the District and their main responsibility will be to improve traffic flows by tackling irresponsible and illegal parking and, in so doing, ensure a fair allocation of spaces for both short term and long term users.
“Indeed, there are many other potential benefits in store with the introduction of Local Authority Parking Enforcement comes into place.”
Unlike existing traffic wardens, the LAPE parking attendants will be using digital cameras to record the contravention that led them to issue a ticket.
It is expected that most disputes will be determined locally but if this is not possible, a simpler process to resolve them is in place. Instead of having to go in front of a magistrates’ court, people who feel they have been wrongly ticketed will be able to use the independent National Parking Adjudication Service. The decision of the tribunal is final.
In line with many other areas of the country which have introduced Local Authority Parking Enforcement, the issuing of a penalty charge notice will result in fine of £60, which reduces to £30 if it is paid within 14 days. Late payment can see the amount rise to £90.
Lieutenant Colonel Tex Pemberton, West Sussex County Council, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said:
"I have asked these two District Councils to take over responsibility for managing day to day on-street parking on behalf of the County Council, and they have agreed to merge that with their off-street parking.
“I cannot stress strongly enough that motorists who park legally will notice no change from Monday. It will be the minority of drivers who will face a greater chance of having to pay a parking contravention charge.
"The increased enforcement will, I am sure, be welcomed by the public at large and by local traders, many of whom have complained frequently about abuse of short term parking bays designed for shoppers, and from the disabled whose designated parking bays are also often subject to abuse.”
"There will be clear evidential benefits from LAPE in terms of the general street scene, and this is another reason why we want to see LAPE extended to other parts of West Sussex over the course of the coming years.”
Further information about LAPE, including full details of how the scheme works, how penalties can be paid and how appeals can be made, is available online, by calling (01403) 215054, or email: parking@horsham.gov.uk
Ends
This news release has been issued by Horsham District Council in partnership with West Sussex County Council.
CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
Email: richard.morris@horsham.gov.uk