Fines rise

Herts 24

HARLOW motorists saw the biggest rise in parking fines in the country in 2005, according to a report by the National Parking Adjudication Service. The number of penalty notices in the town rose by 47 per cent, compared to 20 per cent nationally.
Across the country, £275,000 of parking fines were paid every day - the highest figure ever. The 3.4 million fines issues last year have raked in over £100 million for councils.
A Harlow Council spokesman said: "The service's annual report for 2005 makes its comparison by measuring the number of tickets issued in 2004 against 2005. However, almost 40 per cent of the councils surveyed have not presented two full years' worth of information. In fact, around 15 per cent have only submitted one year's worth of information.
"In 2005 a number of new clearways were introduced including one in the town centre which meant a number of areas enforceable for illegal parking increased. This may have impacted on the number of tickets."
In 2006 Harlow Council issued 623 less tickets than the previous year.