Motorists in Basildon could face more parking fines and higher pay and display fees

1:00pm Friday 25th January 2013 in Local News By Chloe Chapman

MOTORISTS in Basildon could be hit with more parking fines and increased pay and display fees as part of a bid to generate more income.

The South Essex Parking Partnership, which is in charge of Basildon Council’s parking enforcement, is having to make changes because Basildon is set to have a revenue shortfall of £77,990 by 2019.

Among the controversial proposals are to introduce more pay and display parking on streets across the borough, raising parking charges and dishing out more penalty charge notices.

Residents could also be targeted, with plans to introduce additional neighbourhood parking schemes and increase the cost of residents permits by 13 per cent from £26 a year to £30.

Nigel Smith, leader of Basildon’s Labour group, said: “It just seems like a tax on motorists. I understand that we need to use charges to control parking, but residents and visitors have every right to park their cars.

“For residents to have parking schemes when they don’t want them or haven’t asked for them is very wrong. We have already got people who are having to pay out substantial amounts of money to park outside their own homes.”

A spokesman for South Essex Parking Partnership said: “The introduction of any new parking restriction, resident parking scheme, or pay and display scheme, is only introduced if a traffic management need exists and comes as a direct response to resident or business demand and statutory consultation with affected residents, businesses and councils. The role of the South Essex Parking Partnership is to break even through the management of these schemes. Any surplus achieved will be invested back into traffic management related schemes.”

Basildon Council are set to vote on the proposals later this year.
 

Comments (7)

1:14pm Fri 25 Jan 13

eddicaine says...

As usual, shortfall in revenue so hit the usual soft targets, the motorist
As usual, shortfall in revenue so hit the usual soft targets, the motorist eddicaine

1:14pm Fri 25 Jan 13

black jack ketchum says...

Brilliant idea! then what little amount of customers that are attracted to shopping in Basildon will go off to lakeside,

Where were these people born? in a cabbage patch!
Brilliant idea! then what little amount of customers that are attracted to shopping in Basildon will go off to lakeside, Where were these people born? in a cabbage patch! black jack ketchum

1:18pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Cosmo Spring says...

it's all part of the masterplan to destroy the town centre as a shopping venue
it's all part of the masterplan to destroy the town centre as a shopping venue Cosmo Spring

3:38pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Maverick06 says...

Some body explain to me this South Essex Parking Partnership please?

This partnership seems to be run from Chelmsford, but covers Basildon, Castlepoint and Rochford, but do we assume that the revenue goes to the authority where the ticket was issued?

So where is the advantage of a partnership?
Some body explain to me this South Essex Parking Partnership please? This partnership seems to be run from Chelmsford, but covers Basildon, Castlepoint and Rochford, but do we assume that the revenue goes to the authority where the ticket was issued? So where is the advantage of a partnership? Maverick06

3:40pm Fri 25 Jan 13

EthanEdwards says...

Labour complaining of a war on mototists? why turkeys will be voting for christmas next.
Labour complaining of a war on mototists? why turkeys will be voting for christmas next. EthanEdwards

8:45pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Stoko66 says...

What do you expect? After all the **** eviction and the sporting village has to be paid for some how!
Might as well put a wrecking ball through what is left of the fading, outdated, in need of a good wash, over priced dump of a town centre!
What do you expect? After all the **** eviction and the sporting village has to be paid for some how! Might as well put a wrecking ball through what is left of the fading, outdated, in need of a good wash, over priced dump of a town centre! Stoko66

7:38am Sat 26 Jan 13

Greatscot1777 says...

With modern cars using less fuel these days, even though the cost per litre is much higher, more people than ever will 'vote with their steering wheels' and head for Lakeside. One thing lost on councils is the sheer inconvenience of pay and display. Especially in cold and wet weather. Those big multi storey car parks at lakeside mean no fishing around for change for a machine, no running back and forth to put a ticket on the car and they are always snow and rain free. For anyone taking young kids out for the day or elderly people who feel the cold, lakeside wins every time.

Recently the Echo announced Southend council were looking to put parking charges down to 20p an hour in Leigh, Thorpe bay and other non town centre locations in a bid to get people to shop locally. They seem to have seen the light. Why are Basildon hell bent on repeating the mistake of sending shoppers out of town.

The shortfall in funds seems very small, perhaps charging a £1 an hour pay and display for all roads surrounding Dale Farm is the answer?
With modern cars using less fuel these days, even though the cost per litre is much higher, more people than ever will 'vote with their steering wheels' and head for Lakeside. One thing lost on councils is the sheer inconvenience of pay and display. Especially in cold and wet weather. Those big multi storey car parks at lakeside mean no fishing around for change for a machine, no running back and forth to put a ticket on the car and they are always snow and rain free. For anyone taking young kids out for the day or elderly people who feel the cold, lakeside wins every time. Recently the Echo announced Southend council were looking to put parking charges down to 20p an hour in Leigh, Thorpe bay and other non town centre locations in a bid to get people to shop locally. They seem to have seen the light. Why are Basildon hell bent on repeating the mistake of sending shoppers out of town. The shortfall in funds seems very small, perhaps charging a £1 an hour pay and display for all roads surrounding Dale Farm is the answer? Greatscot1777

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