Parked cars blocking a bus stop. Picture: Nick Brickett
Parked cars blocking a bus stop. Picture: Nick Brickett

Back in March we reported on the state of parking on The Friary, around the Bowling Green traffic island in Lichfield and just a few weeks ago figures we obtained revealed that despite the introduction of APCOA parking wardens in March there have been no parking tickets issued to cars parked along that road.

Rule 243 of the highway code states “DO NOT stop or park… opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space [or] opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle [or] on a bend” and it appears that all these points relate to the cars parked on The Friary.

When asked why no parking tickets had been issued to these cars, Councillor Terry Finn said;

“There are no parking restrictions in the Clock Tower area ,  parking wardens can only issue parking tickets if a car driver parks in a restricted zone or is overtime in a limited timed zone.”

Which begs the question of who is in fact reponsible for ticketing those parking in this area of Lichfield? As one commenter reported, there was at least one car issued with a ticket on that road shortly before APCOA were introduced. Was that ticket issued by the previous parking wardens and if so, does that mean the new wardens don’t have the same responsibility? Or are the Police now responsible but seemingly not doing a great job?

There is some re-assurance though. I asked Councillor Marion Bland about the issue and she said;

“County Councillor Terry Finn has assured me that there will be extensive yellow lines around The Friary to combat the dangerous parking on this thorough-fare. It cannot come to soon in my opinion! Our streets are being clogged up with this, and why no parking tickets were issued defies logic.”

Cllr Finn confirmed but gave no indication of when the markings would appear saying, “double yellow lines will be introduced in the near future.”

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Paul Groves
14 years ago

Common sense car parking rules come to ye olde city?
Tidy!

Classcrisis
14 years ago

A cynical person might conclude that the lack of enforcement is a tacit admission that parking in Lichfield is a joke and that the moves to clamp down are motivated not by any concerns for road safety but by a need to raise cash.

That the public transport system in Lichfield district is in a similar state to it’s city centre parking and getting worse. A bus shelter in Burntwood was recently removed permanently in time for winter. Is the message from the council “Get out of your cars folks and stand in the rain” or perhaps the message to business is “We’ll screw your staff and customers for parking so get out of Lichfield unless you’re Tesco then you can have whatever you want”.

Joined up thinking doesn’t seem to be a big hit with our local bureaucrats