Suggestion to Change High Street Parking Rules
Have you ever received a parking ticket while stopping for 5-10 minutes, for example to pop into a nearby shop or deliver something? Local Government Secretary, Mr Pickles, is calling for traffic wardens to be more lenient and reduce the “over-zealous culture of parking enforcement” by stopping penalising motorists stopping briefly on high streets to visit local shops. He also put forward the suggestion that Town Halls provide additional off-street parking to reduce traffic on busy roads.
Ministers are understood to be considering new rules which echo Mr Pickles’ suggestions. Parking charges have been increased as parking spaces become limited, with councils being discouraged to lower charges in town centres in order to reduce traffic congestion.
Speaking at the Conservative spring forum last week, Mr Pickle’s commented: “I believe we need to give people the good grace to pop into a local corner shop for 10 minutes, to buy a newspaper or a loaf of bread without risking a £70 fine.”