From 31st March 2008 parking enforcement
changed throughout the Country. This was the biggest
change in traffic management and parking enforcement since the
introduction of decriminalized parking enforcement in 1991.
Barrow Borough Council acting on behalf of
Cumbria County Council, the Highway Authority, will be responsible
for the on and off street parking enforcement under the Traffic
Management Act 2004 for Civil Parking Enforcement.
This replaces the Road Traffic
Act 1991 under which the Borough has enforced since
September 2001. The Council employ Civil Enforcement
Officers (parking) (previously known as parking attendants) to
enforce all yellow lines and other parking restrictions throughout
the Borough which covers Barrow, Dalton, Lindal and Askam.
This includes all off-street car parks managed by the
Borough Council.
There are two main differences that
affect motorists under the Traffic management Act:
- Most Penalty Charge Notices will
reduce. There will be two different levels of Penalty Charge
Notices (differential charging), for example a vehicle parked on a
yellow line restriction will be issued a PCN at the higher rate of
£70 (£35 if paid within 14 days) whilst a vehicle parked over time
on an off street car park is not deemed to be as serious a
contravention and would therefore be issued with a PCN at the lower
rate of £50 (£25 if paid within 14 days).
- The other difference between the 1991 Road
Traffic Act and the Traffic Management Act 2004 is that currently
if a motorist returns to their vehicle and drives away before the
PCN is fixed to the vehicle or handed to the driver, this PCN is
not deemed to be issued. However, under the TMA, from
31st March 2008, a PCN that is issued and the vehicle is
driven away or the Officer is prevented from serving the PCN, will
still be served through the post.
From 1st June 2009 two additional contravention codes were
introduced under the Traffic Management Act. Code 26 -
vehicle parked more than 50cm (or other specified distance) from
edge of the carriageway and not within a designated parking
place. Code 27 - parked adjacent to a dropped footway.
ANNUAL REPORTS
It is a requirement of the Traffic Management Act 2004
that all Local Authorities publish an annual report showing
statistical information including the Councils performance and
accounts etc. Link to Barrow Borough
Councils annual report covering the financial year April 2010 to
March 2011 (MS Word 270Kb).
For any additional information regarding the
changes being implemented due to Traffic Management Act, please
contact the Parking Services Department on 01229 876429/876544.