New enforcement camera car will tackle ‘dangerous, careless and inconsiderate’ parking around Uttlesford’s schools

Dunmow Primary School's Student Council children with acting headteacher Christian Davies (back left), Cllr Robert Mitchell and Cllr Susan Barker, with the Park Safe car. (Image: Archant)

The North Essex Parking Partnership’s (NEPP) of the parking enforcement vehicle follows numerous requests for increased enforcement from parents, schools, residents and local councils.

The vehicle will be phased in across all the NEPP member districts, except Tendring following a request from the district council.

Coinciding with the time it is launched in each of the five participating districts, the Park Safe vehicle’s work will be promoted to residents, parents and schools, including through school newsletters and visits.

The patrol car – which is clearly branded, making it highly visible to motorists – visited Great Dunmow Primary School today.

The vehicle will focus on tackling dangerous, careless, inconsiderate and negligent parking on ‘no stopping’ restrictions, including on pedestrian crossings and zig-zag markings around schools. Several schools will be patrolled every day, recognising the need for parking enforcement particularly at school start and finish times.

Its use also supports existing Police and Essex County Council road safety campaigns.

Major through-routes with fast moving traffic and other clearways, bus stops, taxis ranks and loading restrictions will also be enforced by the vehicle.

The patrol car will be trialled for one year, with its work regularly reviewed by the NEPP’s Joint Committee.

Chairman of the committee, Cllr Robert Mitchell, said: “The NEPP repeatedly receives requests from schools, parents, residents and councillors to boost parking enforcement, particularly around school sites where parking restrictions are specifically designed to assist pedestrian access, but are routinely ignored.

“I am very pleased we are rolling out the Park Safe patrol car across most of north Essex to help make our streets safer for children and adults alike. The vehicle will enable us to more effectively tackle dangerous and negligent parking which will assist buses, taxis and the flow of general traffic, supporting our town centres and local economies.

“Our CEOs will also have more time to focus on patrolling car parks and permit parking areas, improving parking space availability for those who need it.”

Following the Uttlesford launch, the Park Safe vehicle will then begin patrolling suitable streets across the district.

Cllr Susan Barker, cabinet member for environment at Uttlesford District Council with responsibility for parking, said: “I am often made aware of road safety concerns outside schools in the district.

“The introduction of a camera car, which will target these areas at the beginning and end of the school day is designed to deter those who park illegally, inconsiderately and dangerously on yellow zig zags and restricted yellow lines near schools.”

Introducing the Park Safe’ patrol will support the work of the NEPP’s Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) who patrol on foot. CEOs will be able to give greater focus to car parks, parking permits and ‘no waiting’ restrictions where they are most effectively deployed.

Maintaining the high quality of Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) it currently issues, the NEPP will review all photos taken by Park Safe’s on-board CCTV camera to determine if a PCN should subsequently be issued to a motorist.

Information on where Park Safe plans to carry out enforcement across the Partnership area will be available, in advance, online at parkingpartnership.org.