We take a look at some of the most recent developments in the world of parking below.
Wiltshire set for parking review
Wiltshire Council has revealed it will be conducting the largest review into parking ever undertaken in the region. Having started on Monday (October 27th), the project will look into what the local authority can do to improve the way parking is managed in the county.
Wiltshire-based individuals with careers in parking will no doubt follow this review with keen interest, as it has the potential to have a significant impact on their day-to-day work. Among the topics to be assessed include Sunday and evening charges, and looking at the wider impact of parking on economic and environmental issues.
John Thomson, Wiltshire Council deputy leader and cabinet member responsible for sustainable transport, stated: “Our car parking review is comprehensive and is about much more than just cars, it is about enhancing the local economy, environment and providing value for money in our car parking services.
"We are keen to engage and work with local communities in order to provide them with the most appropriate facilities. I hope as many people as possible will get involved and tell us what they think.”
Parking Sensors for Westminster
This week has seen Westminster City Council introduce parking sensors to 3,000 parking bays across the central London borough. Drivers will be able to make use of the technology by downloading the free ParkRight smartphone app, which will provide a map that shows the locations of available parking bays. It is hoped the new project will help to ease congestion and make driving and parking in Westminster easier.
Heather Acton, Westminster City Council cabinet member for parking and sustainability, commented: "Making it easier to find a parking space, and reducing congestion in the process, the sensors are a key investment in Westminster’s commitment to provide fair, easy and safe parking."
If the use of these sensors proves a success, a further 7,000 will be rolled out across Westminster, meaning the borough will become the first region to utilise the technology across its whole road network.
Edinburgh plans illegal parking action
Edinburgh City Council has revealed it is to look into how illegal parking can be reduced. A report is set to be published early next year following a call for action from Green Group transport spokesman Nigel Bagshaw.
Speaking about the issue, he said he shared the frustrations of people living in the Scottish capital, who are unhappy with the rogue minority of drivers who are ignoring the rules and making it difficult to walk on the city's pavements. Other problems caused by illegal parking include damage to kerbs and pavements, jeopardising safety by forcing people to walk on the road and impeding the flow of public transport.
Campaign group Edinburgh’s Worst Drivers were pleased with the news. "We very much welcome a localised approach to dealing with illegal parking," a spokesperson for the organisation stated.
Stoke to miss parking charge target
According to the Stoke Sentinel, Stoke-on-Trent City Council has fallen short of the target it set for parking charges. The local authority hoped to raise an extra £108,000 through a shake-up of its approach to parking enforcement, but has managed to bring in only an additional £8,000.
Among the new measures that have been introduced are doubling the cost of overnight parking in some areas and bringing in two-hour minimum parking tickets. The council, which currently raises £1.1 million per year from parking, said it is looking into why the target was missed so badly.
