Telford & Wrekin Council should 'give fines for bad parking'

A website has been launched where people can back a campaign to encourage Telford & Wrekin Council to take up civil parking enforcement powers.

A notice of motion was put forward at the full council meeting held at Telford College of Arts and Technology by Conservative councillor Eric Carter and seconded by Councillor Nicola Lowery.

He says the council should take responsibility for civil parking enforcement powers, meaning it would take on traffic wardens as employees but also receive the money brought in by fines.

Currently Telford & Wrekin Council is one of only 21 councils in the country, and the only council in the West Midlands that does not have the power.

The job of issuing tickets to motorists in Telford is currently in the hands of police or community officers but the council could apply for a civil parking enforcement order.

That would enable it to target problem areas, potentially increasing the number of tickets issued to motorists each year – allowing the council to keep any fines that are issued.

Councillor Eric Carter, for Newport South & East said: "We are asking for support, it is not something that just affects Newport and Ironbridge, it affects the whole of the borough.

"It has been led by myself and Nicola Lowery, who seconded the proposal and now we are waiting for Telford & Wrekin Council to send it to the scrutiny committee with a cabinet report to follow.

"We don't know how long that will be. We have launched this website where people can sign a petition and we are asking people to do that so we can continue to build up some momentum."

The campaign has already been backed by the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, the local police inspector for neighbourhood policing, both of the borough's MPs and several town and parish councils across the borough.

Residents who are keen to see the council take responsibility for bad parking in the borough are urged to find out more about the campaign at parkingintelford.co.uk

On the website there will be a "pledge your support page" where people can sign the petition calling for the council to take up the powers.