Ealing Council Plans to Raise Cost of Parking Fines
Claim current levels too low to discourage people from parking illegally
Penalty charge notice: Picture: RAC
Ealing Council this week approved a proposal to significantly increase the rate of fines given to people who incur a penalty charge notice when parking in the borough.
Ealing is to become a band A borough for parking which means that it will impose the higher level of fines available to London councils. Hounslow is also proposing to make a similar change. Previously most band A boroughs were in the centre of London where parking issues are more acute. All other bus lane or traffic offences are already set at band A level across all London boroughs.
The charges would increase by £20 in both the 'higher' and 'lower' categories of offences, e.g. overstaying in a council car park would be deemed 'lower' than a 'higher' offence of parking in a disabled bay without a permit. This would make a PCN cost £130 for the higher category and £80 for the lower. Both fines are reduced by half if paid promptly.
The council are claiming that the reason the rise is necessary is that the number of PCNs issued in the borough between 2016 and 2018 was 41.8% compared to an increase across the rest of London of just 6.8%
Although they acknowledged that ‘improved detection’ by enforcement officers has contributed to the increase, they say a larger factor is that the current level of fines has a decreased deterrent effect as the cost of a PCN has not increased since 2011.
Councillor Mik Sabiers, cabinet member for environment and highways, said, “Ealing is a busy London borough with excellent transport links into central London which puts more pressure on our roads.
“We have seen a consistent rise in the number of PCNs being issued for high level contraventions such as pavement and disabled bay parking as well as stopping on school entrance markings. If we move to this band, we hope to see those figures drop and ensure that those in the borough who have paid for a parking permit or have a right to access space are able to do so.”
A consultation on the proposal ended on 30 January. The results of this consultation will be fed back to ward councillors who will then make the decision on whether or not to apply to the Secretary of State to change the PCN bands. Any application to the Secretary of State is also subject to the prior approval of the Mayor of London. If an application is progressed and successful, it is unlikely that any change would take effect before July 2020.
January 31, 2020