Communities Secretary Calls For Discussion On Private Parking Fines

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said that a crackdown on parking charges by private firms "could end excessive fees and inflated fines forced on motorists".

It is believed that new measures could help small shops and town centres by stopping extortionate charges that are a deterrent to shopping locally and instead drive people to shop in out-of-town centres or online.

Mr Pickles said: "We need to look at whether private firms are charging unnecessarily excessive fees or fines simply for parking. Nobody should endure the stress of being clobbered with a huge bill just for driving to the shops.

"Extortionate fees only put people off driving to high streets and damage local retailers and businesses. They are far from fair for motorists who end up paying through the nose.

"This discussion paper will allow people to raise issues about the way private and public parking firms operate and charge motorists."

Thie discussion applies to issues on parking on private land and on land owned by public authorities. Topics to be considered could back other government measures recently brought in that give drivers a 10-minute grace period when parked in a bay to prevent fines for being just a few minutes late back to a vehicle.

The use of CCTV 'spy cars' has also been banned in the majority of circumstances, ending the tyranny of automated fines being issued in industrial volumes, and landing on doorsteps without warning. In addition, a new right enables residents and local firms to demand that their council reviews parking in their area, including the charges and use of yellow lines.

These parking measures, which are now in law, have been labelled as a victory for drivers and are one of a number of initiatives introduced by the government to support high streets and give local shops a fairer deal.

(MH/JP)