Welcome to this Forum. It has been set up so that supporters of the Lower Fuel Tax campaign can discuss the ridiculous levels on Fuel tax in this country.
OH YEAH ????????????????? Are These the same LABOUR assoles that lost us £8 Bill & cost us a huge rate increase .............................
City predicts eight-fold increase in number of penalty tickets
By City Council Reporter Michael Howard
Motorists who flout parking laws in Stoke-on-Trent are being warned they are far more likely to face £50 fines as the city gears up for a major increase in penalty tickets.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council takes over responsibility from the police for enforcing parking restrictions on double and single yellow lines from October.
The council is predicting it will issue 20,000 to 25,000 tickets a year to illegal parkers – eight times more than the 3,000 a year currently issued by police.
The council has also begun to recruit the 20 wardens and 15 administrative staff who will patrol the city on foot and by scooter to keep main corridors free of any vehicles which are causing an obstruction.
Police priorities have meant very little officer time has been spent on parking duties.
The fines will be used to pay the costs of staff and administration, with an expected £200,000 annual surplus earmarked specifically for transport improvements such as the upgrading of city car parks.
Steve Tams, council assistant director for highways and transport, said: "This plan will benefit everyone who uses the city's roads. By taking action to stop inconsiderate, illegal parking in restricted areas we can help traffic to move freely even on the city's busiest routes.
"Motorists who park illegally need to understand they face a penalty charge, but that charge will be ploughed back into the transport system for the good of all."
All 32 London boroughs have taken over parking enforcement together with 37 authorities outside London and a further six will join them shortly.
Wardens will work on foot, but some will be equipped with scooters to allow them to patrol the main corridor routes through the city.
The wardens will work closely with other city council staff who operate the city's network of more than 100 CCTV cameras to deal with the areas where problems are worst.
Richard Day, Stoke-on-Trent city centre chamber of trade chairman, said: "The most important thing here is to keep traffic moving. We need to be able to get people in and out of Hanley without sitting in endless congestion, that has got to be to everybody's benefit.
"It should also stop the situation where a bus gets blocked in the centre and everything around it quickly grinds to a halt.
"If people park legally they won't be affected by the fines."
Mike Frewer, a member of North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce Transport Committee, said: "I think the majority of visitors to the city want parking which is well organised.
"There is a clear commitment to improve the car parking from the money collected.
"The on-street parking has proved successful but needs to be administered effectively.
"We must have improved car parking facilities and parking discipline on the streets and if we are to have first class facilities for parking for visitors then it has to be funded.
"For upgraded multi-storey car parks, ‘pay and walk' is essential."
Alistair Burgin, manager of Argos in Hanley, said: "There are two ways of looking at this: it could stop people coming into the city, but if it improves car parking it would bring in extra business.
"If it will improve car parking we would welcome it but as a business we will monitor it very closely.
"If it was detrimental to our business we will take it up with the local authority."