Crackdown on school parking
New vehicle to target drivers
AN enforcement car fitted with a camera is on patrol across Carmarthenshire to help tackle the problem of dangerous parking outside schools.
The vehicle, which uses CCTV automatic number plate recognition to catch inconsiderate drivers who park illegally, has also been branded with its new name Iolo Patrolo.
It will be targeting school ‘keep clear’ zones and yellow zig-zags, bus stops, pedestrian crossings and other areas that put children at risk.
The car only needs to drive past vehicles to do its job and drivers caught parking illegally will receive a penalty charge notice in the post for £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days.
Year 2 pupil Osian Davies at Ysgol Brynsierfel in Llwynhendy, Llanelli, won a schools competition to name the car and won a £50 gift voucher and certificate for his efforts.
As well as running a competition to name the car, the council also asked pupils to design a banner which was won by Kai Davies from the same school.
Kai, who is in Year 5, also received a £50 voucher and certificate and will see his design made into a huge banner and placed outside the school for everyone to see.
Road safety mascot Gari Gosafe and Carmarthenshire Council executive board members Hazel Evans and Philip Hughes surprised both pupils at a special school assembly to announce the winners.
Mrs Evans said: “The safety of children outside the school gates is a major concern despite our continued efforts, particularly those that walk or cycle to school.
“Hopefully the camera car will encourage drivers to think more carefully about where they park and help to create a safer environment for everyone.
“Congratulations to both Osian and Kai, it was a tough choice as we had some great ideas for both the name and the banner design.”
Mr Hughes added: “The camera car will help us to tackle those drivers who are putting our children’s lives at risk by continually parking their cars in places which make it difficult to see the traffic.
“This is not only dangerous, but in most cases this is illegal too, and those that break the law will be recorded on camera and fined.”
The camera car has already been used to target parking issues in the county with much success, including the enforcement of the pedestrian zones in Nott Square and Guildhall Square in Carmarthen, with a clear reduction in the number of parked vehicles, improving the environment for pedestrians as a result.