Parking fines reach £106,000

PARKING fines totalling up to £106,360 were issued in Henley last year.

Civil parking enforcement officers employed by Oxfordshire County Council issued 1,633 fixed penalty notices. This was 176 fewer notices than the previous year.

A Freedom of Information request submitted by the Henley Standard found that of the 1,633 charges, 1,303 were issued at the higher charge of £70, which could be reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days. A total of 303 charges were issued at the lower charge of £50, which could be reduced to £25 if paid within 14 days. If all fines are paid at the full charge, the total would amount to £106,360. If all were paid at the discounted rate, it would be £53,180.

Hart Street was where most fines were issued with 137 charges issued and £4,475 collected to date. Thame Side came second having had 118 charges and £2,844.71 collected to date. Market Place had 107 charges issued with £4,185 collected to date, New Street had 107 charges with £3,590 collected to date and Duke Street had 85 charges issued and £2,900 collected to date.

County councillor Stefan Gawrysiak said: “Civil parking enforcement has been a great success. We have parking pressures around the town that need sorting. We had regular problems at York Road when the town bus could not get to the hospital because cars were parked on double yellow lines.

“It is also the case in Hart Street with cars parked on the zig-zags for the pedestrian crossing, which is dangerous, reducing sight lines. To avoid the fines just don’t park on yellow lines.”

Cllr Gawrysiak said all the money raised from the fines should be spent on Henley’s roads. He said: “The money raised pays for the salaries of the wardens and the operational cost.

“Any surplus has to be funnelled into road-related matters and should come to Henley to pay for road repairs and pedestrian crossings rather than be lost in the council’s money pit.

“I am sure that a small amount comes to Henley to contribute to crossings like Gravel Hill Crossing but I will ask for an account of how the money is spent.

“Before we had little response from the police because they were doing more important work like investigating crime and ensuring that we the public are safe.

“We have our own officers, but we do want more, we still have a problem with people parking in loading bays causing problems for business.

“Sometimes a delivery van has to circle the town two to three times to get into a bay — this should not happen.

“Henley Town Council conducted a parking review last year which created more spaces.

“In the town centre, there will never be enough spaces because the centre does have parking pressures and we are due to have another parking review in the next few weeks.”

Mayor Rory Hunt said: “We ’re grateful to the county council for enforcing the parking restrictions and of course, encourage responsible parking within the town.

“Parking is an important issue as it effects residents, retailers and visitors alike.”