hard on the heels of councils seeking more motoring powers(
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=26220) comes
http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/news/councils- ... rking-ward.
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COUNCILS have increased their number of parking attendants by nearly 6% since 2008.
At the same time, 17% of local authorities have reduced the amount of free parking in their areas, figures from LV= car insurance showed.
The statistics, obtained under a Freedom of Information request, showed that 10% of councils have increased the number of parking attendants on duty by 20% or more.
In the past 12 months, 10% of drivers have been hit with parking fines, with offenders forking out £340 million – equivalent to £96 per caught driver.
Based on figures received from more than 200 UK councils, the statistics showed that the number of parking attendants has risen from 3,630 in 2008 to 3,841 in 2012 – a 5.8% rise.
In an average council area, there are now 16 parking civil enforcement officers employed to enforce parking traffic and other laws, with this figure rising to 51 for London boroughs.
LV= managing director John O'Roarke said: "The lack of free parking is putting increasing pressure on cash-strapped motorists and many are 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. Motorists who are visiting busy areas should plan ahead and consider parking slightly further away to avoid high parking charges. Many cities now offer park-and-ride schemes, which are a fraction of the cost of inner city 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."
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And why now are the high streets declining, and out of town malls ,with free parking taking over.