Blaenau Gwent Council will soon be responsible for enforcing civil parking offences in the county borough.
On Monday, 1st July 2019 the Council takes over the responsibility for Civil Parking Enforcement from Gwent Police, and will initially deploy two officers to focus on identified trouble spots such as town centres, schools and residential areas.
Fines issued for offences will be £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days, and £50, reduced to £25, for lesser contraventions.
Councillor Garth Collier, the Council’s Executive Member for the Environment said:
“Following the decision by Gwent Police to no longer enforce parking restrictions the Council applied to take over the powers, a move which was approved by the Welsh Government. Parking restrictions exist for several important reasons, but mainly to help ease congestion on our roads, to promote road safety around schools and allow access for emergency vehicles.
We will be deploy two parking enforcement officers at first to focus on those areas that have been identified as causing problems, with a view to increasing this should it be required. This is not a money making exercise as legislation states that any money from fines is re-invested back into the highways and transportation network.
I would like to remind motorists in Blaenau Gwent to be mindful of where they are parking, in order that we can work together to keep our communities safe and also to avoid any unwanted fines.”
In order to begin Civil Parking Enforcement, the Council has to agree a consolidated Traffic Order for Blaenau Gwent. A document containing details of all the current traffic prohibition orders in Blaenau Gwent will be available to view and comment on from Thursday, 9th May 2019 at the Civic Centre in Ebbw Vale. Please contact main reception on arrival.
Note:
The Civil Enforcement Officers will be able to enforce all parking related restrictions on the public highway by issuing a Penalty Charge Notice for any vehicle found to be parked unlawfully. These include:
● Prohibition of Stopping (i.e. bus stops, school keep clear markings, zig-zags on the
approaches to pedestrian crossings & rural clearway restrictions)
• No Waiting, No Waiting & No Loading
• Parking Bays specifically for limited waiting, loading, taxis, disabled persons, doctors, police, funeral directors vehicles and permit holders
They will also be able to issue Penalty Charge notices for:
• Vehicles parked across dropped kerbs
• Vehicles parked more than 50cm away from the kerb
• Vehicles parked other than in accordance with the car park regulations in Council owned car parks
Blaenau Gwent Civil Parking Enforcement - FAQs