Dartford Borough Council officers are to recommence enforcement of on-street
parking regulations as a gradual return-to-work sees commuter parking rise in some
residential neighbourhoods. Enforcement of yellow lines, loading restrictions, yellow
and white zig-zag markings, identified loading/waiting/disabled bays and all resident
parking schemes will restart from June 1st.
Parking enforcement has been relaxed since 23 March when Government
restrictions were put in place to combat the spread of Coronavirus. In order to phase
this in, a period of warning notices given to offenders will ensue up until 14 June and
from 15 June Penalty Charge Notices will commence for ALL on street
contraventions.
Leader of the Council, Jeremy Kite said, “We’ve noticed that the common-sense
decisions we took to relax parking restrictions to help residents working from home
are now attracting more and more commuters as they return-to-work. It’s good to
see the economy start to recover but we do need to protect the interests of local
families living in residential streets, particularly if they are part of a resident parking
scheme.”
Jeremy confirms that council owned car parks will continue to be free for a while
longer despite some other councils reinstating charges:
“I’m quite relaxed that Dartford might be the last to re-impose car park charges
because we’re trying to look at this in terms of managing demand rather than just
revenue. It’s unlikely that our shopper car parks will be full again until traders open
later in June and if the free spaces are useful to commuters in the meantime that’s
fine. Everyone’s had a hard time and we want to help. We will probably have to look
at bringing charges back when commuter or long-stay parking means shoppers can’t
find spaces. “
For more information please contact press@dartford.gov.uk or call 01322 343225.