Camden New Journal - News: Drivers cough up record fines in parking tickets

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Camden New Journal - By CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS
Published: 7 February 2008

Cllr Mike Greene

Drivers cough up record fines in parking tickets

‘Clamping has just been replaced by tighter enforcement’

MOTORISTS in Camden are forking out more money on parking fines than ever before.
In the past 12 months, Camden has collected nearly £25 million from issuing penalties to drivers, a £4 million leap from the amount generated over the previous year.
The record figures have been posted despite repeated claims from the Liberal Democrat and Conservative coalition that they have made parking policies fairer since its election in 2006.
Disillusioned drivers fed-up with fines were said to have played an important role in the old Labour administration’s downfall and campaigns were waged directly at former environment chief John Thane.
Parking chiefs were this week facing charges of hypocrisy after the council’s latest bumper figures.
But Conservative environment chief Councillor Mike Greene said the fairer systems brought in by the council meant drivers were more willing to cough up. He said ending clamping, tearing up performance related pay contracts for wardens and showing drivers where they had gone wrong with photographic evidence were examples of the new look department.
Cllr Greene added the figures over the past few years had been skewed because Labour had failed to collect enough money in its final days.
But Labour group leaders warned that motorists were not getting a better deal – despite the promises made by the coalition.
Deputy leader Councillor Theo Blackwell said: “They keep saying [the system is] fairer but the number of tickets have gone up massively – £4 million in the Town Hall coffers – it does raise the question, have they made the system fairer?”
Under the current regime, “minor” parking offences such as parking in a resident’s bay leads to a fine of £80, which is halved if paid within 14 days. Fees for serious contraventions such as parking in a disabled bay come in at the higher rate of £120, also subject to time limits.
Cllr Blackwell added: “They were afraid they would lose the revenue because of the end of clamping so they made sure their enforcement was tightened up.”
Mr Thane added: “The truth of the matter is more people own cars but kerbs don’t grow, so the pressure remains.”

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