Newport mayor warns to have say on 'number one issue' illegal parking
Newport's "number one issue" is parking and people should seize the chance to have their say on it, the town's mayor has said.
Councillor Peter Scott urged people who live and work in the town to contribute to a Telford & Wrekin Council consultation on civil parking enforcement (CPE), which launched this week.
The council wants to understand the views of people across the borough on enforcement of parking laws, which is a hot topic in Newport with frequent complaints of people parking on zig zag white lines in the High Street.
Councillor Scott, who is also a borough councillor, said: "Parking has been the number one issue for a lot of Newport people for a long time. Now that the council are going to implement CPE it is very important that residents have their say.
"The consultation asks about parking around schools, double yellow lines and even parking permits. I would urge everyone to tell the council how they feel. It is an opportunity not to be missed.
"The town council community safety committee has lobbied for CPE for a number of years and now it looks like a reality.
"The police are moving further away from parking enforcement so it is down to the local authority to take on the powers. Most local authorities already have CPE and we are one of the last to take it on."
Councillor Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet member for enforcement, said: "We know how illegal and inconsiderate parking causes problems for residents and businesses and we understand the frustrations that it isn’t being policed.
“That’s why the council wants to take over this role and we would like to hear from as many people as possible about experiences, what the issues are and where the hotspots are.
“The survey asks a variety of questions, from parking around schools and on pavements to disabled parking bays and the potential for permits for businesses who need to make deliveries in our main towns so please take part in the survey and let us have your thoughts.
“I want to reassure residents that we are not taking on these powers to make money by issuing lots of fines. I also want to reassure residents that council owned car parks that are currently free to use will remain so.”
The consultation is open until October 14. To have your say visit telford.gov.uk/parkingenforcement
