Campaigning Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone has helpfully http://www.lynnefeatherstone.org/2009/07/parking-tickets-and-fines.htm blogged about parking and the problems in London of bad systems and all the issues that wind residents up. The same issues apply in Reading too.
While parking enforcement is a tough area for people to work, those who set the guidelines should be held to account if things go wrong. Reading Borough Council is due to report in September on changes to parking enforcement arrangements - and about time too. There are a number of issues with controlled parking zones in all shapes and sizes, far too many tickets wrongly issued which residents then have to try and appeal, and some areas getting too little enforcement.
A full three months ago I asked the Council to see a copy (confidentially) of the parking enforcement contract it has with NCP. I am still waiting. I am told that NCP is unwilling to have it issued to a member of the authority to which it is contracted. What a ridiculous situation. And why has Reading Borough Council not overruled them?
One has to wonder whether they really want to see this system more accountable.... Meanwhile the report Lynne published when Chair of Transport at the London Assembly, at http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/transport/parking.pdf, looks to be a good read.
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