The number of tickets issued for violations of civil parking laws has increased by 30% since Ipswich Borough Council took on responsibility for enforcement, it has been revealed.

An FOI request has revealed that parking attendants issued 15,186 penalty charge notices (PCNs) for offences, including parking on yellow lines, during the financial year 2020/21, but during the last year (up to March 13) some 20,475 PCNs had been dished out.

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The information from Ipswich Borough Council also showed the authority had raked in £150,000 more in cash from levying the charges this year, compared to 2020/21.

The figures were £442,971 this year, compared to £286,892 in 2020/21.

The road with the highest number of tickets this year was Old Foundry Road, while across the town, the 15 parking attendants issued 8,887 tickets for parking on yellow lines, with the second highest number for parking in a disabled bay at 788.

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Local authorities took on responsibility for enforcement from the police in April 2020 with parking attendants issuing fines of up to £70 for contraventions of the rules, which also cover parking in loading bays, disabled spaces and on zig-zag lines.

The level of charge depends on whether the violation is a higher or lower level offence, with, for example, parking in a loading bay being deemed higher level, while parking without paying a charge warrants a lower level charge of £50.

If paid within 14 days, the charges are reduced, but increased if payment is received after 56 days.

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An Ipswich Borough Council spokesperson said: “We are unable to say that the PCN increase is down to one particular reason, but the following are likely to be contributing factors:

  • The Covid-19 pandemic saw a significant reduction in both vehicles being driven and parked and also the levels of enforcement being carried out. 
  • Ipswich Borough Council has streamlined the online ‘Report a Parking Problem’ form, which is completed by members of the public. This is actively responded to which can result in enforcement teams being deployed and issuing of PCNs (2022/23)
  • Introduction of a new Residents Parking Zone (zone 5) in June 2022, which has created new parking restrictions which did not exist before (2022/23).”