This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/dec/06/council-parking-permit-rules
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Why does the council sell me a parking permit, but won’t enforce rules? | Why does the council sell me a parking permit, but won’t enforce rules? |
| (6 months later) | |
| I believe my local council has acted dishonestly by continuing to take money for parking permits when it is not enforcing parking restrictions. | I believe my local council has acted dishonestly by continuing to take money for parking permits when it is not enforcing parking restrictions. |
| I only found out when I contacted it over an increase in vehicles being parked without permits in my road, meaning that sometimes it is impossible to find a space. | I only found out when I contacted it over an increase in vehicles being parked without permits in my road, meaning that sometimes it is impossible to find a space. |
| I was told that the council is currently unable to carry out any parking enforcement and the head of parking services suggested that this has been the case since 2015. | I was told that the council is currently unable to carry out any parking enforcement and the head of parking services suggested that this has been the case since 2015. |
| This has never been announced to residents, who have continued to receive reminders to renew their permits before they expire. | This has never been announced to residents, who have continued to receive reminders to renew their permits before they expire. |
| I requested a backdated refund of £230 for two years, but all I have been offered is a refund on the amount unused if I return my permit. | I requested a backdated refund of £230 for two years, but all I have been offered is a refund on the amount unused if I return my permit. |
| TB, Winchester | TB, Winchester |
| Councils collected £1.6bn from motorists in fines and permit charges in the last year according to a survey released by the RAC Foundation this month. | Councils collected £1.6bn from motorists in fines and permit charges in the last year according to a survey released by the RAC Foundation this month. |
| That left them with a record £816m profit after costs were deducted. Small wonder then, that Winchester City Council didn’t tell you that permits were no longer needed. | That left them with a record £816m profit after costs were deducted. Small wonder then, that Winchester City Council didn’t tell you that permits were no longer needed. |
| The council explains that the problem lies with the road markings, which are the responsibility of Hampshire County Council. | The council explains that the problem lies with the road markings, which are the responsibility of Hampshire County Council. |
| “Unfortunately the lines in one particular area are not clear enough to meet the standards which we know the national parking adjudicator requires for ‘fair’ enforcement,” says a spokesperson. | “Unfortunately the lines in one particular area are not clear enough to meet the standards which we know the national parking adjudicator requires for ‘fair’ enforcement,” says a spokesperson. |
| “Had we publicly given notice to remove this particular road from the scheme, the result could have been a ‘free for all’ with residents and commuters competing for very limited on street parking. A valid resident parking permit means residents have been able to park in any of the 10 streets in this zone which have been continuously enforced.” | “Had we publicly given notice to remove this particular road from the scheme, the result could have been a ‘free for all’ with residents and commuters competing for very limited on street parking. A valid resident parking permit means residents have been able to park in any of the 10 streets in this zone which have been continuously enforced.” |
| In short, you have paid £230 for the privilege of parking several streets away from your house. | In short, you have paid £230 for the privilege of parking several streets away from your house. |
| Hampshire County Council insists the lines in your road are visible, but after I got in touch it decided repainting would begin within a fortnight. | Hampshire County Council insists the lines in your road are visible, but after I got in touch it decided repainting would begin within a fortnight. |
| If you need help email Anna Tims at your.problems@observer.co.uk or write to Your Problems, The Observer, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Include an address and phone number. | If you need help email Anna Tims at your.problems@observer.co.uk or write to Your Problems, The Observer, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Include an address and phone number. |
| Motoring | Motoring |
| Your problems, with Anna Tims | |
| Consumer rights | Consumer rights |
| Consumer affairs | Consumer affairs |
| features | features |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |