Maidenhead & Windsor

With just over two months to go until the Windsor and Maidenhead council takes control of parking enforcement, it’s all systems go for the launch on Monday January 14 2008.

The application for the Windsor and Maidenhead Royal Borough to become a Special Parking Area (SPA) was submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) in September and plans are well advanced for a public awareness campaign to start at the end of November under the slogan Safer, fairer parking for all.

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead highways, transport and environment, said the council had made excellent progress through ‘the maze of red tape’ and complex preparation needed to take over parking enforcement from the police.

He said: “Local people and visitors will notice a difference from day one. Our high profile team of parking attendants will be on the streets and in town centres, where the thoughtless selfish parking of some freeloaders has been causing serious issues for pedestrians and businesses and showing utter contempt for the law.

“We submitted our SPA application in good time and, depending on the DfT response, we are on course for a January 14 2008 launch.”

Cllr Rayner added that by taking control of parking enforcement the council would enable police to focus their attention on fighting crime and disorder. He said: “We look forward to seeing a reduction in crime figures at the end of 2008.”

The SPA will mean that the Windsor and Maidenhead council will take over responsibility for yellow lines and limited waiting, as well as its own residents’ permit areas – bringing more consistent and fairer enforcement across the borough. Existing parking and waiting restrictions will remain the same – the only change being that the council will be in charge of enforcement instead of the police.

The scheme will aim to:

* encourage sensible and safe parking for the benefit of everyone
* reduce the risk of accidents caused by dangerous parking
* increase parking turnover and make better use of the available spaces
* reduce pollution by cutting queuing times for parking places
* end confusion about who is responsible for parking enforcement – the council or the police?

Under the current system, money collected in parking fines goes to central government. However, the SPA will mean that all income from penalty charge notices (PCNs) will stay with the council to fund the scheme and enable it to be self-financing. Any left over funds must, by law, be spent on improvements to parking, transport and the environment locally.

Windsor and Maidenhead Cllr Rayner underlined that the new system would not affect anyone who parked legally, sensibly and safely – but those breaking the law would be issued with a penalty charge notice (PCN) for £60 (discounted to £30 if paid within 14 days).

He added: “This is the biggest change in parking regulation and enforcement since the introduction of parking meters. We want residents and visitors to be aware of the changes so they don’t get a PCN.

“Our parking attendants will not get bonuses or incentives for issuing a certain number of tickets. Their job will be to enforce parking regulations openly, fairly and consistently for all. They will also act as council ambassadors, providing advice and assistance to the community by reporting problems such as litter, graffiti and flytipping. This means the council will be better able to deal with these problems and pursue the offenders.”

Information about the Special Parking Area is available by:

* visiting the Royal Borough’s website www.rbwm.gov.uk
* writing to The Parking Team, Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead SL6 1RF
* calling 01628 683880
* emailing parking@rbwm.gov.uk

From January 14 maps will be available on the Royal Borough’s website so drivers can check where parking restrictions are in force on local streets and roads.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead