Thousands of parking fines on city streets

Council insists they are not‘first resort’

More than 2000 parking tickets were issued in three months over the summer by Stirling Council.

Figures set to go before tomorrow’s meeting of the council’s environment and housing committee show that between April 21 and July 31, a total of 2090 PCNs (parking charge notices) were issued.

Between January and July the figure was 5148.

These included 1031 to vehicles with no ticket and 784 for those parked without displaying a valid permit. The sum of 239 were issued to vehicles parked in a disabled bay without a blue badge.

A report to the committee says in some instances there is a 10 minute “grace period” including for loading/unloading, vehicle with no ticket, vehicles parked in a bay with an invalid permit or pay and display ticket and for a vehicle with no pay and display ticket.

However, in some instances the parking enforcement officers are able to use their own judgement.

The report added: “Discretionary waiting grace periods can be given, ie a customer may be permitted to park in a goods vehicle designated bay when they are loading goods to or from a private vehicle or a blue badge holder may be permitted to briefly park in a residents’ bay if there is sufficient space.

“Enforcement officers are encouraged to use their discretion and judgement, particularly with more vulnerable customers.

“Our aim is to encourage a culture of compliance through education, engagement and ultimately enforcement.

“We do not view PCNs as a resort of first choice but as a final sanction when other avenues have failed.”

Fixed penalty notices issued by the safer communities enforcement officers for environmental and antisocial behaviour violations achieved more modest figures between April 21 and July 31.

These included 16 for fly tipping, 63 for littering, 10 control notices, seven for dog fouling, 46 for abandoned vehicles, two acceptable behaviour contracts, three unacceptable behaviour notices and one antisocial behaviour order.

The Observer reported in February that 8143 parking tickets had been issued since the council took over parking enforcement in May 2017.

The council raked in more than £195,000 in parking fines between May and December 2017 alone.

However, other enforcement penalties issued during that period were on far more modest levels, with only 30 fly tipping and littering fines, 139 abandoned vehicle fines, nine dog control notices and not a single dog fouling penalty issued.

Enforcement officers are encouraged to use their discretion