Gwent Police and Newport City Council launch campaign to tackle illegal parking in the City Centre
Posted on Thursday 21st May 2015
From today, Thursday 21 May, Gwent Police officers and Newport City Council staff will be starting an operation to tackle illegal parking around Newport city centre following complaints and safety concerns.
The joint operation has been agreed following reports of drivers parking in the pedestrianised zone, parking on double yellow lines and parking in taxi areas or disabled spaces.
During the first two weeks of the operation, officers will be educating drivers about where they can park and how they can park legally. Leaflets will be given to drivers to indicate the many public car parks that are available throughout the city centre.
Officers will also be liaising with shop owners and traders, asking them to help by parking their vehicles legally and informing their customers on the parking initiative and where parking is available in the city centre.
Gwent Police and Newport City Council are also looking at longer term measures to alleviate parking problems in the future.
Following this education phase, from Thursday 4 June officers will be giving out fixed penalty fines of up to £100 to drivers seen parking their vehicles illegally.
Inspector Richie Blakemore of Gwent Police explained: “We want to remind all drivers to park legally for the safety of everyone using the city centre. The first week gives drivers the chance to understand where they can park and speak to us with any queries they have. There is adequate car parking provision in the city centre which motorists should be using when leaving their cars.
“During the second week, we will be giving out fines to tackle those drivers that continue to park illegally, despite our warnings. We don’t want to give out fines however, for the safety of everyone using the city centre, they are necessary for persistent offenders.”
Councillor Deb Davies, Newport City Council’s cabinet member for streetscene and city services, said: “We have received a large number of complaints about people parking illegally in the city centre.
“It is important that we all work together to ensure that the city centre is a safe and attractive place to visit and I am certain that everyone agrees that illegal parking is dangerous for pedestrians and the obstruction to bus routes can be a real nuisance. I hope that car drivers will respond positively to this campaign and adhere to the advice that is being provided.”
If you would like more information about parking in the city centre, please call Newport’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams on 01633 245289 or contact Newport City Council by calling 01633 656656.
To report illegal parking you can also call 101.