MP supports higher fines for illegal parking

9 hours ago

Galya Dimitrova

BBC News

Vikki Slade said drivers who park illegally "are not just breaking the law - they are endangering public safety"

UK Parliament Vikki Slade speaking at the House of Commons. She is reading from a piece of paper. There are other MPs sitting behind her. — Vikki Slade said drivers who park illegally "are not just breaking the law - they are endangering public safety"

An MP has supported a council's upcoming motion to "to urgently raise the cap on fines for illegal parking" which has been causing disruption to coastal communities.

Lib Dem MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, Vikki Slade, raised the issue in Parliament, saying towns like Poole and Bournemouth "are blighted with illegal parking".

This comes after Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council officers towed away a record-breaking number of vehicles over the weekend.

The government has been contacted for a comment.

The weekend saw 1,702 penalty charge notices issued and 18 cars lifted by the south coast

BCP Council A red car is being lifted onto a flatbed truck. The is a man in an orange florescent jacket standing next to the white truck. It is a sunny day with a blue sky and the truck is parked on a residential street where you can see a four-storey building. The road has double yellow lines. — The weekend saw 1,702 penalty charge notices issued and 18 cars lifted by the south coast

"The government controlled level of fines clearly does not act as a deterrent," said Lib Dem Jeff Hanna, who represents Bournemouth West.

"Just £35 outside of London, but £80 in a London Borough – if paid within [two] weeks.

"BCP is as suburban as any London Borough."

Mr Hanna said 1,702 penalty charge notices (PCN) had been issued and 18 cars were lifted and removed on 12 and 13 July, despite sufficient spaces available in car parks "within walking distance of the beach".

He said towing came at a cost to the tax payers and the release fee of £105 was "nothing like enough to cover the actual cost". In London the release fee is £280.

"So the difference comes from your council tax", he added.

Mr Hanna said a motion would be coming to the next BCP council meeting from two Boscombe councillors, calling for yet more lobbying of the government on the level of penalties.

'Growing frustration'

Following her question the House of Commons, Ms Slade wrote to Alex Norris, Minister for Local Growth and Building Safety, urging for exploring solutions with local authorities and a review of illegal parking fines that "have been frozen for 20 years".

"I would highlight that these drivers are not just breaking the law—they are endangering public safety," she wrote, citing the blocking of pavements, "depriving disabled people and families of safe passage" and "obstructing residents from accessing their own homes".

"This is a source of growing frustration for residents, who rightly expect their council to act.

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