Dozens of motorists hit by Nelson parking fines
7:00pm Saturday 22nd September 2012 in News
DOZENS of motorists were issued with town centre parking warnings yesterday as part of a new crackdown.
Shoppers have been told that they will face a fine if they continue to park on Manchester Road in Nelson for over an hour.
The bays in front of the shops were supposed to be limited to one hour, but special authorisation was required from the Department of Transport to enforce this and for 18 months motorists have been able to breach the regulations.
As of yesterday Lancashire County Council traffic wardens can now book motorists who stay for longer than one hour.
Yesterday the county council said it was currently only giving out warning notices, but a Nelson councillor said people who had contacted her had received tickets.
Coun Eileen Ansar said: “I’ve had lots of people coming into the shop today saying they have got a ticket, it’s not on.
“People should be given warnings first, trade is bad enough in the town centre without this happening.
“For 18 months people have been parking for as long as they want here, so it is a shock that suddenly the new regulations have come in.”
The county council said warnings had been given out in the same envelopes as penalty notices, but motorists at the moment were not being fined.
Anybody who believes they have been issued with a penalty charge notice should write in using the usual appeals process to have it overturned.
Paul Riley, parking services manager, said: “Pendle Council has made some environmental improvements in this area, marking out the parking bays in coloured concrete setts which, because it's different to the usual arrangement, meant we've had to apply to the Department for Transport for special authorisation to enforce them.
“We're now able to enforce them, but for the moment are only applying warning notices to any vehicles parked in contravention to be fair to people who regularly park in this area by warning them the rules have changed.”
Comments(17)
embeee
says...
7:59pm Sat 22 Sep 12
l m h jones
says...
8:40pm Sat 22 Sep 12
iasiah fartwell
says...
9:54pm Sat 22 Sep 12
Sajdin
says...
10:18pm Sat 22 Sep 12
DirtyHarry
says...
10:44pm Sat 22 Sep 12
l m h jones wrote:It needs napalm.....and lots of it !!!!
one of the recommendations of the portas review was free parking to encourage high street shopping does nelson not need shoppers?
DirtyHarry
says...
10:46pm Sat 22 Sep 12
embeee wrote:Ha ha ha, ten minutes maybe
an hour in Nelson is long enough for anybody.
Izanears
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9:55am Sun 23 Sep 12
Rose Rouge
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10:05am Sun 23 Sep 12
2 for 5p
says...
11:02am Sun 23 Sep 12
Rose Rouge wrote:very good point
There are plenty of other car parks in Nelson where you can park for 2 1/2 hours (with a disc), several long stay car-parks where you can park for up to 12 hours, plus the large multi-story car park. Anyone who uses the central bays for more than an hour deserves a ticket.
Kevin, Colne
says...
11:47am Sun 23 Sep 12
First of all we have the statement: ‘DOZENS of motorists were issued with town centre parking warnings yesterday as part of a new crackdown.’
I would hardly describe the situation as a ‘new crackdown’.
The position seems to be one where the regulations have now come into force after a period when for technical reasons the original intent of limited time parking could not be enforced legally.
Next we have: ‘The bays in front of the shops were supposed to be limited to one hour, but special authorisation was required from the Department of Transport to enforce this and for 18 months motorists have been able to breach the regulations.’
I am sorry but motorists were not in breach of the regulations. The regulations had no legal standing until the granting of special authority, therefore motorists could not be in breach of them.
I think that council officers are to be congratulated for introducing a period when motorists who are now in breach of the regulations are given due warning. This seems to me to be eminently sensible and proportionate.
Journalism should be an honourable calling; we need the very best journalists that we can get. The state of journalism in the national daily 'newspapers' is pitiful enough without regional titles emulating them.
iasiah fartwell
says...
9:36pm Sun 23 Sep 12
ROBERTSLUMDWELLER123
says...
9:55pm Sun 23 Sep 12
ROBERTSLUMDWELLER123
says...
9:56pm Sun 23 Sep 12
DirtyHarry wrote:we need some shops first!!
l m h jones wrote:It needs napalm.....and lots of it !!!!
one of the recommendations of the portas review was free parking to encourage high street shopping does nelson not need shoppers?
lancashirelass100
says...
12:31am Mon 1 Oct 12
1981ab
says...
7:01pm Mon 1 Oct 12
will12
says...
11:13am Wed 10 Oct 12
But bravo, Pendle Council for not having any cell's between thy Lug'ole's !!! 18 month's, and finally you get it sorted !!!!
And these Clown's will be getting a big fat Pension courtesy of YOUR Poll Tax, and obviously the big fat Pay Cheque while NOT being able to do the simple tasks of their Job's !!!!!
AND THEY WONDER WHY NELSON IS A BAZAAR SORT OF PLACE !!!!
And I wonder why LT didn't let anyone comment on the 500 lol strong Peace Vigil ??? And just how many knew about it?? And who paid for all the Police Presence? It had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Nelson !!!! Life of Brian nuff said !!!
useyourhead says...
7:49pm Sat 22 Sep 12