Parking Enforcement in the East Riding

A meeting of East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s cabinet on Tuesday, 25 May, will discuss how the council may take control of parking enforcement in the East Riding.

Members of the cabinet will discuss how the council and Humberside Police can work closely together to see control of parking in the East Riding handed over to the local authority by October, 2011.

If approved the proposals would see the council apply for civil parking enforcement powers from the Department of Transport.

Humberside Police, which is currently responsible for parking in the East Riding, would work with the council to ensure a managed handover in autumn next year should these powers be granted.

Responsibility for civil parking enforcement has already been taken on by the majority of councils around the country as part of a national move which sees local authorities rather than police forces in charge of parking enforcement.

Through civil parking enforcement parking is no longer a matter for the courts, helping to avoid a criminal record for those who breach parking laws.

Within the Humberside Police area Hull City Council has been in charge of parking enforcement for three years, North Lincolnshire Council took control of parking this year, while North East Lincolnshire Council has also applied for the powers.

Councillor Matthew Grove, portfolio holder for highways and emergency planning at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “This is a positive step which should be welcomed by anyone using roads in the East Riding.

“Illegal parking is not just an inconvenience, it can impact on the safety of the roads, and the ability of services including public transport, refuse collection and the emergency services.

“The proposals here in the East Riding would see the council employ its own uniformed civil enforcement officers, rather than appointing a third party to carry out the work.

“These officers will be trained to a higher level than current parking attendants to offer a complete service throughout the East Riding. They will not be heavy-handed and will respond first and foremost where we know this issue is causing problems for a community.

“Their priority will not be issuing tickets, or raising income for the council, it will be managing on-street parking to keep the roads safe and usable for everyone

“This move will help us encourage safe and sensible parking, reduce congestion on the roads, and improve access to shops, homes and facilities.”

Humberside Police’s human resources manager, Tammy Naylor said: “The police in the East Riding are one of the few remaining to transfer the responsibility for parking enforcement to the local council.

“East Riding of Yorkshire Council will take over this function in the future, allowing Humberside Police to utilise their resources to continue to increase service delivery to the public within the East Riding Area.

“During the transition period Humberside Police will continue to ensure parking concerns are dealt with appropriately until the transition is complete.”