Parking fine changes agreed

People who park dangerously on streets in south Shropshire will be fined £70 under new parking rules. Fines are being increased by £10 from April, even though it will actually leave South Shropshire District Council worse off.

The council wants to change the system of parking enforcement from April, under new legislation that is being introduced.

However, most people will pay much less than £70 if they commit a traffic offence.

People who pay their fines early will only have to foot a bill for £35. The cost of a fine for people who commit time-related offences will actually fall, from £60 to £50. People who pay early will only have to foot a bill of £25.

South Shropshire District Council's executive committee yesterday heard that the change would lead to a shortfall in revenue of about £6,900.

The shortfall would occur because most people are guilty of time-related offences, which would now be cheaper for motorists to pay.

Today Councillor Cecilia Motley, South Shropshire District Council's leader, said the authority had no choice but to approve the new system.

She said: "We had two options before us. The first was to levy fines of £60 for parking dangerously and £40 for time-related offences. Those figures are halved for people who pay within 28 days. The second option was for fines of £70 and £50.

"We opted for the higher level of fine, even though our revenue will now actually fall."