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Local authorities are out to get the motorist again. A number of authorities are about to change the periods of payment free parking. Westminster City Council have led the way by voting that parking charges be introduced on Sundays between 1pm and 6pm and to extend weekday and Saturday controlled parking to midnight. Councils outside London Read more »

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This isn’t the first time I’ve mentioned this as I’m usually at the cutting edge of news! As you know! The Government is about to introduce lane rentals, a charge to be made on utility companies and local authorities when they disrupt Read more »

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In a report prepared by Auto Express they have revealed that motorists should be aware of the ways that automatic number plate recognition (APNR) is now being used. We have become obsessed with cameras watching our every move, whatever we’re doing from driving to walking down the street, buying a bar of chocolate or catching a train. But Read more »

If you are illegally using a disabled badge when you pop into town in order to park closer to the shops, beware, as local authorities take a stronger stand. Research in Leeds and Newcastle found that the illegal use of the blue badges was now out of control. Research found that 60% of disabled badges used in Leeds were illegal and more than half of the badges in use in Newcastle were similarly illegal. Around Read more »

And so the debate goes on regarding speed cameras. I first of all reported that many local authorities were switching them off as they could no longer afford to keep them operating. Then the public stepped in and complained that they were necessary if we are not to see a rise in deaths on the road, supported by safety bodies. So now it seems that some local authorities are willing to rent a Gatso for £5,000 per annum if local people want to keep particular cameras operating. When Oxfordshire Read more »

None of us can say that we like speed cameras but we have to admit that not all are simply there to generate income for the local authority, some have a genuine use in built up areas, near to schools and along stretches of road that had previously been an accident black spot. So whilst many of us are generally pretty happy that many local authorities are preparing to switch off many of the static Gatso cameras it’s a bit Read more »

Moving on to legitimate parking fines, it turns out that local authorities may follow the Westminster council lead and name and shame the worst culprits for not paying their fines. It seems that some of the worst culprits are the very wealthy and Westminster has taken the unprecedented step of announcing the worst offenders on it’s website. It would seem that many of those that refuse to pay the fines are Arab Read more »

After allowing local councils to levy workplace parking charges it seems that few are actually taking up the opportunity. Nottingham was the first to make a move and it was thought that all local authorities would follow suit but after seeing the reaction of local large employers, who announced they would move their offices rather than pay the parking levy, other councils have viewed the opportunity far more cautiously. Read more »

Surprisingly, there has been a public outcry over the switching off of speed cameras around the country after the Government decided to withdraw funding to local authorities necessary to maintain and operate the cameras. In Oxfordshire the council has announced the turning off of the speed cameras after their payment to the speed camera partners was reduced by 70%. This has outraged residents, according to Read more »

As local authorities look at ways to raise money, in order to fill the deepening hole in their finances, it’s the motorists who are about to get another kicking. After this coalition government said they wouldn’t use motorists as a cash cow, as had been seen previously, when things have been tight for local authorities. In the Surrey towns of Epsom and Ewell disabled blue badge holders are now being charged for their Read more »