A new scheme to tackle problem parking in Cardiff has been launched today, with the Council now responsible for enforcing parking restrictions.
An overhaul of the system aims to bring significant improvements to the city, making it safer for pedestrians, easier for public transport and better for the disabled community.
Civil parking enforcement teams will work between 7am and 10pm, seven days a week.
Four rapid response teams will answer public reports of illegal parking anywhere in the city and prioritise them in order of severity. Problems viewed within the Council’s new CCTV control room will also be reported to these teams.
The initial team will consist of 35 on-street civil parking enforcement officers (CEOs), four off-street CEOs, five senior CEOs and one Team Leader.
Vehicles which are found to be parked illegally will be issued with either a £70 or £50 fine, appropriate to the seriousness of the circumstances. If the fine is settled within 14 days, a 50% discount applies. If a fine is not paid or appealed within 56 days, it may be increased by 50%.
Whether you are a driver, resident, cyclist, pedestrian or trader, the new scheme aims to bring a number of benefits to Cardiff, including:
- Improved traffic flow and road safety across the city.
- Improved public transport reliability and journey times.
- Reduced misuse of disabled bays.
- Reduced parking problems around schools and hospitals.
- Reduced delays to emergency vehicles.
- Improved access for delivery vehicles.
- Increased availability of short stay parking spaces outside local shops.
- Reduced damage to pavements and highway verges.
- Improved conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and the disabled community.
- Improved conditions in residential areas including residential parking.
Executive Member for Transport, Cllr Delme Bowen, said: “This dynamic approach to problem parking will help make our city easier to use for everyone. By keeping routes clear of illegally parked cars, we hope to free up our transport network and make it safer and less congested.
“This system will also help residential areas, where parking may be a problem, decrease public transport journey times, and help people feel that they can safely walk or cycle in the city.”
Civil parking enforcement forms part of Cardiff’s wider Sustainable Travel City scheme. Further details can be found at www.keepingcardiffmoving.co.uk
