David Warburton, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Somerton & Frome, has met the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Rt Hon. Eric Pickles MP in Somerset to discuss his new measures to give drivers a fairer deal when parking anywhere in South Somerset.
Designed to encourage more people to visit and support our local shops and small businesses, the measures announced by Mr Pickles and coming into force next month include:
• A new 10 minute grace period for drivers when parked in a council-owned car park or on-street parking space – so they’re not hit with a fine after being only a few minutes late back to their car.
• Banning the use of CCTV ‘spy cars’ which issue automated fines.
• Stopping drivers being fined when parking meters are not working.
• Reinforcing the law that parking cannot be used by councils to generate revenue to use to fund general council spending.
• Allowing local residents and businesses to petition their council to review their parking policies to make sure they are supporting local businesses and high streets.
David commented, “Parking rules have made law-abiding motorists feel like criminals, and caused vast damage to our high street shops and businesses.
“Towns like Wincanton, Castle Cary, Somerton and many others have suffered hugely because of parking over-regulation. It’s shocking that official figures show South Somerset District Council received more than a million pounds in surplus parking fine
revenue last year. SSDC have to now get behind the changes that have been announced and ensure that they’re not profiteering on the backs of shoppers, and make sure that their policies are not deterring people from visiting local high streets.
“I’m delighted that we’re ending the war on drivers who just want to go about their daily business, and I hope this will help to transform our local high streets so that they can continue to grow as vibrant centres of communities for people to visit and enjoy.”