The town that hates parking wardens so much they need body cameras for protection…Hexham in Northumberland.
This time the parking row is being led by an ice cream seller who was given a parking ticket outside a school in Hexham on Tynedale after 37 years in the job.
And there are similar rows bubbling in Morpeth and Alnwick – because it all started when Northumberland council took overparking enforcement from the police in April.
I’ve been to hear Alan Philipson the ice cream seller‘s argument:
The council says drivers are allowed as long as it takes in those loading bays on Battle Hill providing it’s continuous loading or unloading. But if not and the vehicle is left for five minutes or more then enforcement action may be taken.
And about Alan’s ticket they said it happened on School Keep Clear, single or double yellow line restrictions and any vehicle parking there runs the risk of enforcement action being taken.
But people in Northumberland are so angry that parking wardens are having to be given body cameras for their protection.
More from the council:
On the ice cream van:
The School Keep Clear restriction at the Sele School, Hexham applies Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm throughout the year. As all of the highway in this area has either a School Keep Clear, single or double yellow line restriction any vehicle parking there in contravention of the restriction runs the risk of enforcement action being taken.
On change in enforcement:
Before civil parking enforcement was introduced the council carried out a review of all Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) across Northumberland, where all the lines and signs associated with the orders were checked and consulted on.
Northumberland County Council took over parking enforcement from Northumbria Police in April 2012. Parking rules have stayed the same – the only difference is that the council is responsible for enforcing them instead of the police.
On Battle Hill:
The bays on Battle Hill are designated as loading bays from 8am until 6pm. If continuous loading or unloading is taking place the driver will be allowed as long as it takes, but if there is no loading or unloading taking place from a vehicle and this has been observed for five minutes or more then enforcement action may be taken.
A spokesman said: “On 17 April 2012 Northumberland County Council took over parking enforcement from Northumbria police. The parking rules stay the same and there are no changes to where people can and cannot park but Civil Enforcement Officers employed by the council now enforce the rules rather than the police.
“CEOs ensure that cars are parked correctly and legally. They make sure vehicles don’t exceed the maximum stay in time-limited areas, that waiting and loading restrictions are observed and that the correct payment has been made for parking where it is appropriate.”
Fiona Marley Paterson 