Council wants to get tough on parking with new powers
Published 18 Nov 2011 08:54
19 Comments
POWER to impose parking fines could be transferred to Fife Council - who will take a tough stance on illegal parking on West Fife streets.
The environment enterprise and transportation committee are expected to give the go-ahead to the decriminalised parking enforcement (DPE) scheme today (Thursday) which would allow council staff to give out fines.
And they have vowed not to be shy when it comes to lifting illegally-parked cars off the street.
The committee report said, "There are a few occasions where illegal parking causes serious and immediate safety issues.
"The ability to remove vehicles on these occasions is required. The DPE application therefore would include a request for powers to remove vehicles."
DPE would help generate an estimated £500,000 a year in additional income while easing demand on police resources. Fife police's community traffic wardens are currently in charge of regulating on-street parking and, if the scheme gets the go-ahead, the wardens will be transferred to the control of the council.
Seven councils in Scotland have implemented DPE, including City of Edinburgh Council.
Traffic wardens there have made more than £60million for the capital.
The Press revealed in November last year that Fife Council commissioned transport consultancy MVA to develop a business case for DPE.
Now the council are ready to submit an application to the Scottish Government to make it happen.
The report said, "The local authorities with the greatest levels of demand on their parking have tended to implement DPE.
"In the Strathclyde area, most local authorities have been encouraged to take up DPE powers as the police consider these to be a low-policing priority.
"This is consistent within the UK generally, where local authorities have been encouraged to take up DPE powers."
The move is expected to boost the budget during the continuing dismal economic climate.
The report added, "In 2010/11 the total income from the car-parking account was approximately £2.7m.
"Expenditure amounted to £1.966m, giving a net income of £0.734m. The net income is used to improve the quality of all car parks in Fife and provide traffic management-related improvements and sustainable travel projects in accordance with the Fife Parking Strategy.
"DPE has the potential to raise additional net income to Fife Council by up to £0.5m per annum after year one."
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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jollymolly
93 posts
Nov 18, 09:53
Report commentWell I hope they start with there own transport ..parking illegally
Fife Council white vans parking on double yellow lines all the time
Recommend?
Yes 50
No 3
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BoBsDaMan
4 posts
Nov 18, 10:09
Report commentGreat thinking by Fife Council here. Just after they took away a chunk of parking from Dunfermline, they then charge people because they can't find a space... Idiots!
Recommend? Yes 46
No 4
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376 posts
Nov 18, 12:49
Report commentGET OUT OF YOUR CARS AND WALK! THAT IS WHAT YOUR BODY WAS DESIGNED FOR!
Recommend? Yes 15
No 25
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ItsErnie
197 posts
Nov 18, 16:22
Report commentWouldn't it be wonderful if they started fining 'pavement parking'? Along my road it is frequently so bad that mothers with push-chairs have to walk on the road! The corner of Scotland Drive and St. John's Drive has got to set some sort of record for inconsiderate loutish parking for instance and I have seen women with prams forced to walk on the road around this blind corner. Fine them all!
Recommend? Yes 38
No 3
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bicyclebob
159 posts
Nov 18, 16:40
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scott1970
23 posts
Nov 18, 19:13
Report commentAbout Time.as a bus driver am sick of all the cars that park in bus stops double park in streets and parkin the new row.hope they book them but we will have to wait and see.
Recommend? Yes 20
No 0
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supersonic
217 posts
Nov 18, 20:10
Report commentAbout time!!!! They need to get on top of people dropping litter as well! Another thing, the state of the cycle path starting at William street with horse manure! Dog owners don't get away with it so why should horse owners! It's a disgrace!!!!!!
Recommend? Yes 19
No 1
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******
Nov 18, 20:54
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maclam
308 posts
Nov 19, 01:26
Report commenthopefully we will finally have the pedestrianised high street area made safe for pedestrians during the evening hours where all the access and parking regulations are totally ignored by vehicle owners regardless of any public safety issues caused by vehicles entering and being allowed to park illegally at present
Recommend? Yes 13
No 1
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supersonic
217 posts
Nov 19, 06:42
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Geedoc
23 posts
Nov 19, 19:30
Report commentIf this initiative follows the pattern of the much vaunted "litter wardens"...parking fines will only be issued to the frail and elderly..and when they're not present.
Recommend? Yes 6
No 1
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******
Nov 19, 19:32
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supersonic
217 posts
Nov 20, 07:05
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Tradesman
93 posts
Nov 20, 19:47
Report commentAberdour road and adjacent streets on a Sunday are a potential disaster zone; double yellow lines are regularly ignored, it will take a serious accident before the authorities take serious action!
Recommend? Yes 7
No 0
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NotHappyJan
192 posts
Nov 20, 21:09
Report commentThis nothing but revenue raising by the Council. Provide enough parking space and there will not be an issue. God knows motorists pay a lot of taxes and get very little in return. The council is relying on this revenue more and more and very soon you won't be able to park outside your own front door.
Recommend? Yes 8
No 7
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davie1
26 posts
Nov 21, 12:12
Report commentI am constantly amazed at the idiots that run the council - dont they realise that there is a direct link with the town centre being a ghost town full of closed shops? Parking in public car parks must be free! Its fair enough to control the ilegal parking on double yellows on public roads- we already have traffic wardens for this. Petty little Hitlers employed by the council will undoubtedly make a bad situation worse.
Recommend? Yes 14
No 5
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beaker
80 posts
Nov 21, 12:29
Report commentof to the kirk this sunday for my sins.
Recommend? Yes 1
No 1
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scott1970
23 posts
Nov 21, 22:09
Report commentThe wardens we have iN duNfermline are useless. Get new ones in that will book cars for parking on pavements have you seen Arthur street what a nightmare.get the old wardens out and young blooded ones in.
Recommend? Yes 3
No 2
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Tradesman
93 posts
Nov 22, 09:15
Report commentWhat equally needs addressed are those individual drivers who stop and park on dual carriageways, corners, ‘T’ junctions, wholly or partly on footpaths and switch on their hazards because they have broken down?
No!
Because their mobile phone is ringing!
These individuals are a hazard to other road users and pedestrians, but if police cannot see those who we all see driving and use their mobile phones I cannot envisage police officers noticing these other ‘mobile’ menaces!
Recommend? Yes 11
No 0
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Tradesman
93 posts
Nov 24, 12:56
Report commentTraffic Wardens seem more interested in looking in shop windows than car windscreens or their positions on the road or the footpath.
Greggs seems to be one of their favourite windows!
Recommend? Yes 8
No 0
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******
Nov 25, 12:16
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cameronsdemise
33 posts
Nov 26, 08:21
Report commentFunny how not one of you have mentioned the possibilities of a job , I'm now a grumpy old bass;and could use a job , bet they will pay a decent wage plus ticket bonus , bring it on , My name's on the list Already. Let's go the whole hog and have each warden armed with spike sticks for speeding drivers £30.00 bonus per iodiot !Let's also hope they redeem control of all the empty shops in carnegie retail park and take control of all NCP Car parking grounds. They might earn enough from this exercise to pay for 2man patrols on some of the footpaths where, unfortuneately a young woman was attacked by some drugged up scroat with a fairly large chain, heavier than a bike chain and robbed of her Christmas Shopping . It was about 7pm on a saturday evening where a bridge , which opens on to woodmill rd., was built for pedestrians coming down from the town ! This poor lass was covered in weals from the chain , I was the taxi driver who picked her up & took her home after almost running her over when she shot out of the dark like a scared rabbit . ( police were infomed ) was a few yrs ago now , but OH! The youth of Dunfermline must be real proud of the picture they paint !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Recommend? Yes 0
No 0
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******
Nov 26, 13:53
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******
Nov 28, 11:12
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