Motorists to be hit with new wave of parking fines

Motorists are set to face £70 fines if they park more than 20ins (50cm) from the pavement under a government move.

The measures, expected to come into effect next year, would also enable councils to issue fixed-penalty notices on vehicles left alongside dropped kerbs, creating difficulties for wheelchairs and prams, even where there are no yellow lines.

Councils outside London were given the powers in March but so far none has used them because of the cost of installing signs or markings to warn motorists.

Now the law will be changed to allow councils to enforce the infringements without putting warning in place.

Under the proposals, which will be subject to consultation, they will simply have to mount an information campaign.

The Department for Transport insisted the changes would bring the rest of England into line with London, where the fines are already imposed. But the motorists’ lobby is unlikely to take too kindly to further clampdowns.

Meanwhile, councils can now use CCTV cameras to catch parking cheats — sending tickets by post — and traffic wardens can issue a ticket if they see a car illegally parked, without having to put it on the windscreen.

Transport Minister Rosie Winterton, said: “Dropped footways are provided to help wheelchair users and those with powered mobility vehicles or prams get around easily and safely.

“The Highway Code says that you should not stop or park in such places and we believe the placing of traffic signs or road markings to indicate these restrictions should not be necessary — as is the case in London.

“The same rules should apply to allow councils to enforce against double parking, a dangerous activity that causes an unnecessary obstruction of the road, putting all road users at risk.”

The crackdown was backed by the British Parking Association, but it warned: “We must be absolutely sure that this power, which has been used in London for a number of years, is implemented in a fair and transparent way.”

The new powers will be available for all councils where responsibility for enforcing parking has passed from the police, which includes Rochdale.

The fines will be either £70 or £60, depending on which of two bands is used by each council, with a 50 per cent discount for paying up within two weeks.

Last year, councils were ordered not to set targets for parking tickets, or income from fines, to try to curb criticism that they were more concerned with raising revenue than keeping traffic moving.