Parking responsibility moves from police to council today

PC Ken Maple writes: "Currently, when a motorist commits a parking offence on the street, such as

parking on double yellow lines, a Police Officer or Police Community

Support Officer issues a Fixed Penalty Notice.

"From today, 21st January 2008, Cheshire County Council will take over

responsibility

for enforcing parking, loading and waiting restrictions in Crewe &

Nantwich

from Cheshire Police. Cheshire County Council and Crewe & Nantwich

Borough

Council have agreed that the Borough Council will undertake enforcement

as

agents to the County Council using their Parking Attendants to enforce

on-street parking as well as in the Borough's car parks.

"From this date illegal parking on the street will no longer be classed

as

criminal offences but become civil contraventions. The Parking

Attendants

will issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCN's) to any vehicle parking

illegally.

A PCN for any on-street or car park contravention will cost £60. This

is

reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days of issue. If the payment is not

made

or no response is made to reminders the Charge will increase to £90.

Unpaid

tickets are a civil debt recoverable through the County Court in the

same

way as any other such debt.

"The Council have provided a Frequently Asked Questions page concerning this issue, and it can

be

found at:- www.cheshire.gov.uk/roads/DecriminalisedParking/FAQS.htm (The website link that was here no longer works)

"The bad news is that as a police officer I will no longer be able to

issue

penalty notices for most parking offences. I will still be able to deal

with offences of obstruction however. I have no idea how often, if at

all,

the parking wardens will be visiting Audlem."

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.