MOTORISTS parking in a city centre street beware – it’s the number one hotspot for parking tickets!
Traffic wardens issued a whopping 1,261 tickets to drivers flouting the law in Friars Road in one year, the Times can reveal.
The number of tickets handed out, which equates to nearly 25 tickets each week from April 2009 to March 2010, were for parking on double or single yellow lines or for parking longer than permitted.
Other reasons why drivers were slapped with an instant fine of £70 – reduced by half if paid within 14 days – was because they had parked in a taxi rank, parked incorrectly or parked in a clearway.
A number of motorists have also been fined for parking in a disabled spot with no badge and parking in a bus stop.
Foleshill Road, in Foleshill, which is the fifth highest in the table, saw 10 people penalised for parking in a bus stop. A total of 7,424 tickets were issued in the top 10 Coventry streets favourite with parking wardens.
Martin Yardley, director of city services and development, said: “We make no apologies for issuing penalty notices. We do it to keep traffic moving smoothly and to keep pedestrians and other motorists safe.
“We all know how frustrating it is to be stuck in traffic because you’re having to wait to edge round someone who has parked where they shouldn’t.
“It also beggars belief when people think they can get away with parking in spots that are specifically designed and located for blue badge holders.
“Any revenue made from the collection of parking fines in Coventry is reinvested in improving traffic management and keeping the roads flowing.”
Coventry City Council took over as parking enforcers from West Midlands Police in 2005. But so far any money made from parking fines is being used to clear hundreds of thousands of pounds of debt which has mounted up setting the operation up.
In the last financial year (April 2008 to March 2009) the council raked in more than £1million, but only pocketed £27,000. It was the first year the scheme had made a surplus.
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