Anger as council fails to fine motorists parking on playing fields

Gloucester City Council has been branded “disgracefully incompetent” for not issuing £500 fines to motorists who are ruining the grass by parking on a popular Linden playing field.

There is a parking byelaw which bans people from parking on The Lannett in King Edwards Avenue

Several years ago, the council spent thousands of pounds erecting signs around the playing field which order motorists not to park on the grass. Failure to do so would result in a fine of up to £500 or face prosecution by the council.

Some motorists have ignored the signs and have continued to park on the grass. But not a single fine has been issued by the council or any prosecutions have taken place.

Councillor Terry Pullen (L, Moreland) said he is “totally fed up” with the council’s inability to take action and enforce the parking byelaw.

He said: “Working with local residents, I have provided the council with numerous and significant evidence of vehicles who continue to park on the grass,” he said.

“However, the council has not issued a single fine or taken any legal action to prosecute drivers who continue to flout the law.

“Apparently, the council and its legal team has attempted legal action recently through the courts but failed to get a prosecution because they were unable to comply correctly with legal processes and deadlines. This incompetence is disgraceful”

Councillor Tree Chambers-Dubus (L, Moreland) said most residents are law abiding and respect the by law by not parking on the grass.

She said: “However, not surprisingly they have lost trust and faith in the city council and its ability to take action. In the meantime, some motorists continue to park on the grass and get away with it.”

Council leader Richard Cook (C, Kingsway) said the environment crime team has spoken with residents and delivered leaflets to all households to let people know that they take these offences very seriously.

He said: “Following these visits the parking issues had substantially improved so we were advised to hold off on any legal action and continued to monitor the situation.

“It is disappointing to learn that there have been recent reports of parking on the grass, as well as careless and inconsiderate driving, and we are fully prepared to issue fines of up to £500 under the parking byelaws to anyone caught parking illegally.

“We are also working in partnership with local neighbourhood police officers to prepare notices giving them powers to seize or remove any vehicles being used in a manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance.”

By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter

Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk