Cracking down on anti-social street parking
In a move to get tough on people who abuse on-street parking regulations, Wealden District Council is to investigate whether to decriminalise car parking. This would mean responsibility for on-street parking transferring from the police to the Council.
It could lead to a more organised road side parking system in the district’s main towns and villages, with short-stay parking bays for shoppers and greater enforcement of fines when these designations are ignored.
The full council meeting last Wednesday asked the Cabinet to investigate decriminalised parking and consider making representations to East Sussex County Council on its introduction in the Wealden area.
Proposing the move, Councillor Mrs Laura Murphy said she was raising concerns voiced by the Hailsham Action Team about the amount of illegal parking on double yellow lines, at corners and on the pavement in the town.
“If people are allowed to get away with this, we are sending out the wrong signals. Hailsham Action Team believes by implementing a more stringent road side parking system we would be able to get through to those people who are parking illegally that they are committing an anti-social act.”
The Hailsham Action Team was set up in July after residents were consulted about levels of anti-social behaviour in the town. Concern about on-street car parking was one of the issues raised by members of the public. Hailsham Action Team has been advised by the police that parking infringements could be better targeted by decriminalising parking in the town, giving the local authority responsibility for designating on-road car parking and enforcing it.
In agreeing with Cllr Mrs Murphy’s motion, Cllr Nigel Coltman, Leader of Wealden District Council, said an investigation into decriminalisation did not mean the Council would have to start spending money, but it would help to improve Cabinet’s understanding of the problem.
Note to Editors:
As part of the decriminalisation of car parking, revenues received from penalty charges are used to fund enforcement activities.
Hailsham Action Team has been set up with support from Hailsham Town Council and the Safer Wealden Partnership. It is one of a number of Local Action Teams that have been set up by communities in Wealden and East Sussex. They usually involve a wide range of local groups including the Neighbourhood Watch, youth clubs and church groups. They work alongside Sussex Police’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams and can tackle a wide range of community concerns including vandalism, yobbish behaviour and speeding traffic.
