Parking fines hit nearly £500,000

Evening Star
26 March 2006

UP to £450,060 has been generated by parking fines since Ipswich Borough Council took over the responsibility for issuing tickets, it emerged today.

Previously, the police were in charge of handing out tickets but the offence was decriminalised last October.

Since the council took over it has issued 7,501 parking tickets.

Those that pay up within 14 days of being given the ticket pay £30 but those who leave it any longer face charges of £60.

Richard Walker, manager of the Ipswich Parking Service, said the scheme has been a success since the council took over and attendants have carried out 32,654 visits.

He said: “Parking matters are now a civil offence and not a criminal one unless the vehicle is causing an obstruction.
“If you measure success in terms of the numbers of notices contravened then it has certainly been a success.
“We are not out to target people but we will catch them if they are doing the wrong thing and parking illegally.
“Our message is clear to people - don't take the chance.”

There are currently 15 parking attendants employed by the council to check parking in the town.

Their positions are funded from penalty charge notices served on those parking incorrectly and not from council tax funds.

Mr Walker said: “If everybody obeyed the rules there would be no funding for the staff but there also wouldn't be the need for any.
“Any money made as a surplus goes back into the community.”

Attendants go around in pairs and work Sundays and evenings as well as during office hours during the week.