This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
On-street parking enforcement set to change
13/07/2021
The County Council will introduce more on-street pay-and-display parking as it takes over civil parking enforcement
The government has approved Oxfordshire County Council’s bid to take on responsibility for civil parking enforcement in the Cherwell District. From an anticipated start date of November 1 the council’s team will take over checking people are complying with on-street parking rules. That role is currently overseen by Thames Valley Police.
As part of the move extra on-street pay and display car parking spaces will be created.
The County Council says the new arrangement will create safer roads and help traffic flow more freely and any motorist who parks legally and responsibly will have nothing to fear from these changes.
An information campaign will run in the lead up to November 1 warning drivers who flout the rules that will no longer be able to get away with it.
Parking offences will be enforced by a contractor on behalf of the council. Fines will be issued for offences such as overstaying in pay and display bays, double-parking, parking in disabled bays without a blue badge and on yellow lines. Penalty charges will range from £50-£70, but will be reduced by 50 per cent if paid within 14 days.
The County Council already enforces parking in Oxford City and West Oxfordshire. The aim is for the new arrangement to be self-funding, with the extra pay and display spaces helping to pay for enforcement costs, although there will be some limited funding from Cherwell District Council.
Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “This is one of the most significant changes the county will be making in decades, and we are delighted to be bringing this change in. At the moment, residents in these affected districts are suffering from motorists who park with near impunity. Finally, we will be able to take control of managing parking offences and give local communities more input into parking enforcement in their local areas.
“We are determined to make walking and cycling easier and safer and to improve bus services, and one way to do this is to improve the flow of traffic by penalising drivers who clog up the roads through inconsiderate parking and who put pedestrians, cyclists and other road users in danger.”
Councillor Dan Sames, Cherwell District Council’s Lead Member for Clean and Green, said: “This will change how problem parking is enforced within Cherwell District. Enforcement will change from police officers and PCSOs to enforcement officers employed by Oxfordshire County Council. Those flouting parking regulations can expect to be dealt with more vigorously than in the past, which should deter inconsiderate and problem parking across the district. Three enforcement officers will operate initially with their focus mainly being in Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington, with other areas being dealt with as needed.”
Once civil enforcement comes into force, members of the public will be able to report areas and incidents of illegal parking through a dedicated email address and telephone line. Officers will investigate and take enforcement action as required.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam