Changes to parking enforcement keep Wolverhampton moving
Released: 12 January 2007
Wolverhampton City Council will take over responsibility for enforcing parking regulations from West Midlands Police next month.
More than 150 councils across the country have already been given powers by the Government to take over these responsibilities.
The city council, working in partnership with its contractor, APCOA, a national parking services company, will enforce parking restrictions across the city from February 5, 2007.
From this date parking attendants working for APCOA will replace traffic wardens, allowing police to concentrate on other priorities.
Residents and visitors may have already noticed that existing lines and signs are being refurbished and re-painted, and from February 5, the new parking attendants wearing a distinctive red and navy uniform will be visible on the streets.
A rigorous parking enforcement scheme in the city aims to reduce congestion, encourage safe and sensible parking, ensure that buses and emergency services are not delayed, and improve the environment.
Councillor Peter Bilson, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise said: “Our aim is to keep Wolverhampton moving. The majority of motorists do observe parking restrictions, but poor parking, particularly in the city centre and on its approaches, has a dramatic effect on the flow of traffic, causing congestion and impacting on safety for all road users, including pedestrians.
“We are undertaking an extensive campaign to alert Wolverhampton’s residents and visitors of the changes and remind them to take notice of parking signs and restrictions to avoid having to pay a penalty charge.”
APCOA’s Managing Director Paul Bird said: “We are delighted to have been entrusted with this responsibility by Wolverhampton City Council, and I would like to confirm our commitment to helping improve parking and driving conditions for residents and visitors.”
The objective of the scheme is the efficient movement of traffic; the project is not aimed at making money. Income from the payment of Penalty Charge Notices will be used to fund the cost of the parking service, and any surplus will be used for investment in Wolverhampton City Council’s transportation projects. There will be no target for the number of Penalty Charge Notices that a parking attendant must issue, nor do they result in commissions or bonuses for parking attendants who are hourly-paid workers.
Parking attendants will issue Penalty Charge Notices for contravention of waiting restrictions on the road and some off-street car parks. The penalty charge is £60, reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days, and increased to £90 if not paid after 56 days. This service does not involve clamping or towing away.
Parking for Blue Badge holders will continue to operate as before when parking on-street. Anyone who parks in accordance with the Blue Badge scheme will not receive a Penalty Charge Notice.
For more information call City Direct on 01902 551155 or visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/keepmoving.
Issued by the press office.