Parking fine hit squads to blitz schools
HIT SQUADS will impose parking fines on anyone irresponsibly dropping off or picking up children from schools throughout North East Lincolnshire.
Parking wardens will be fining motorists £60 in a clampdown on those flouting parking rules near schools, to safeguard children's lives – and they are not revealing when and where they will strike.
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Get-tough policy: Cars parked like this one on a yellow line outside Signhills Academy School, Hardy's Road, Cleethorpes, will be targeted by ticket wardens. Picture: Michelle Adamson
Eight wardens currently working in the borough – soon to rise to 10 wardens – have already drawn up a hit-list of schools.
However, Mick Phoenix, North East Lincolnshire Council's parking services manager, is remaining tight-lipped about when are where his team will strike first.
He told members of Haverstoe Forum: "We will be more like the Spanish Inquisition. No one expects us."
He added the get-tough policy will be carried out in partnership with Humberside Police and North East Lincolnshire Council and will also involve staff from schools in the borough.
Mr Phoenix said: "I like the idea of volunteers helping us from the schools.
"We already have a good database of intelligence. There has been a lot of publicity surrounding the problem and there comes a time when education stops and enforcement starts.
"Even if the motorist stops the vehicle and then drives off we can still impose a fine. We just send it to them in the post – although it is better if we can stick the notice on their vehicle."
He added that wardens and groups of volunteers from schools would ensure the restrictions on parking, especially zig-zags and imposed restrictions, would be fully enforced.
Dave Poucher, of Balfour Beatty Working Partnership, said: "Parents soon learn the lesson. Hitting people through their pockets is an effective way of dealing with the problem."
The strategy was revealed hot on the heels of Haverstoe Forum members submitting a petition to North East Lincolnshire Council calling for the creation of a kerb-side management team to tackle illegal parking outside schools.
Forum member Peter Kingsford said: "Action needs to be taken before a kid gets hurt.
"There are zig-zag lines outside Signhills (Academy) but it is a mess because of the buses all coming together, vans and cars. It needs enforcement – especially between 8.30am and 9am and again from 3.15pm to 3.45pm."
Members heard a notice had gone in the school newsletter advising parents of the rules of no parking on zig-zag lines.
Head teacher Ken Thompson said: "People are patient. I rarely see people getting frustrated in their vehicles."
Forum chairman Councillor Keith Brookes suggested photographs are taken of persistent parking culprits and their vehicles and sending them warning letters.
He said: "We could see if a story could go in the Grimsby Telegraph to shame these people who regularly park outside the school and show how they are endangering the children's lives."
Have your say
Is parking a problem outside your child's school? Tell us where selfish parents and parkers are putting children's safety at risk and we will pass on the details to the council.
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by ginaclee
Saturday, February 04 2012, 10:44PM
“Like maybeitmight1, I have also seen the council van for which I have taken the registration number and contacted the council to inform them that every time they target the St Peters Av, Cambridge St, Bark St area their employees park on double line to fine people and then jump in it and go, also sometimes one waits at the wheel on double line while the other fines and then very quickly as if it was a very top secret mission, they speed off... If it wasn't such serious matter it would be quite comical the way they look over their shoulders and sneak off.. Ofcourse the council are not interested.. Also I agree with the comments that the dog**** situation should be addressed, it is disgusting, and again the council aren't interested in targetting this issue, but one would think that if the fines for leaving your dog's parcels all over the paths could be as high as £1000, they would be targeting these offenders as if they do their maths and all they want is money into the pot, they would have to fine quite a few people for bad parking to make 1 fine for dog fouling... Really they could start by not taking the mickey by allowing their employees to park in double yellows so they can fine others for doing exactly that...So much for the Council listening to the people, pfffffffffffft!”
by mindofmyown
Friday, February 03 2012, 1:07PM
“The L:abour controlled council no longer issues fixed penalty notices (fines) for dog fouling or littering.
I take it that Labour thinks the council doesn't need the money and residents of N E Lincs don't mind litter and dog**** all over
Still their record shows that if there are enough people complain about their policy they will "listen to the people" (but not admit they were wrong) and change back
What a load of rubbish!.”
by Dexxx
Friday, February 03 2012, 10:46AM
“Blue 90blue Simple answer You will no doubt find .as I did that a person in a position to tackle this problem was himself a dog owner who used the very area I was concerned about .”
by blue90blue
Thursday, February 02 2012, 6:35AM
“YES THESE PEOPLE ARE RIGHT THERE IS DOG **** EVERYWHERE WHY DONT THE COUNCIL SPEND MONEY ON EMPLOYING PLAIN CLOTHS DOG WARDENS TO STOP THIS HAPPENING THIS TOWN IS DISCUSTING YOU DONT SEE IT IN CITIES DOG **** EVERYWHERE”
by maybeitmight1
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 9:41AM
“Have picture of Parking waredens decamping their van and heading off on patrol, leaving their van on double yellow lines! Neither council or G.E.T were interested in bring it to wider public attention.
One rule for them and one for us, I hope that 'task force' parking blitz are all being subject to enhanced crb check working in close proximity to children.
Agree with the points on picking up sh!t.”
by Other_Ideas
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 9:27AM
“Maybe if there was not so much dog sh!t on the paths, you may find more children and there parents walking to school.Maybe NELC could give the parking attendants a shovel and bin bag.Two birds with one stone, they are so used to talking to us like sh!t they may as well deal with it also.”
by peterwhite89
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 9:16AM
“I read this story yesterday about people parking in places where they shouldn't. There is an exeption to the rule that many people aren't aware of. IF you are driving a council van and IF you are going to stop at the bun shop........ its fine!
http://tinyurl.com/6sdekp2”
by quatrop1
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 8:09AM
“tuesday morning council repair and re-seed damage caused by parents parking on grass verges in danesfield ave. waltham. 3.30 parents completely ignore work and park and chew up the repaired verge. its time smething was done.”
by blue90blue
Wednesday, February 01 2012, 3:01AM
“The fact is that this is so unfair the motorist is having to pay for the council cuts the government has took off them. what about taxing the rich in the area the motorist is bearly managing with the pwtrol increase and now more parking charges get your act together be fair on us motorists there are others who can be taxed this is not democrocy”
by MikeOxlong
Tuesday, January 31 2012, 11:14PM
“A few months back there was a story about the Council staff parking down Cambridge Road (because the Council thought it'd be a great idea to charge their own staff for parking) this caused congestion down cambridge road... the problem was solved with double yellows!! problem is these cars have now moved from the beaten track & park down near Aldi & on the Cambridge park estate, near the old folks homes... they park slap bang on corners causing blind spots, theres going to be a massive accident down there one day, watch this space.”