Motorists are facing hard times when it comes to parking their cars as traffic wardens are on the rise and free parking spaces are on the decline as councils look to generate more cash.
According to data sourced by car insurance firm LV, the number of hired traffic wardens by councils has risen by 5.8% (increasing from 3,630 to 3,841) since 2008 and during the same period 17% of councils reduced free parking.
Local Government Minister Bob Neill said “There is no excuse for town halls using parking fines and motorists as cash cows. There are plenty of other ways for councils to raise extra income or make savings like better procurement and sharing back-office services.
“We want to see councils use parking to support the high street and help their local shops prosper. That’s why we have ended the last government’s requirements to limit spaces, push up parking charges and encourage aggressive parking enforcement.”
John O’Roarke, managing director at LV, said the lack of free parking in council areas was “putting increasing pressure on cash-strapped motorists”, with many “resorting to parking illegally”.
“This problem is being exacerbated as councils increase the number of paid parking zones in their areas and take on more parking attendants to police them,”
Of the councils from whom information was received, Westminster had the highest number of parking attendants (242), followed by Islington in north London (135), Edinburgh (121) and Lambeth in south London (99).
Aug, 31, 2012