Parking in Pembrokeshire

Civil Parking Enforcement Report 2019-20

Introduction

Strategy & Policy

Parking Provision in Pembrokeshire

Our Services

Civil Parking Enforcement

Performance Delivery & Statistics

Financial Information

Update on 2018/ 2019 Initiatives

Future Development & Initiatives

Appendix 1: Resident and Shared Parking Schemes

Introduction

By Councillor Phil Baker

Cabinet Spokesperson for Infrastructure, Licencing and Major Events

The Council is required to publish this information in accordance with Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004.

This is the Eighth annual report we have published, in accordance with the requirements of the Traffic Management Act 2004. Its aim is to provide information about how Pembrokeshire County Council delivers its parking enforcement and associated services and to place the service in context with our other road network management duties and policies.

We continue to enforce parking restrictions both on and off street on all roads in the County and in all car parks owned by the Council. This report covers the period from 1^st April 2019 to 31 March 2020. 

One of our priorities is to ensure that the enforcement of parking restrictions is transparent, consistent and fair. Pembrokeshire County Council recognises that openness and accountability is critical to gaining public support and by publishing our Annual Parking Report, we hope that our customers will be aware of our dedication to improving the parking regime for residents, businesses, and visitors.

The authority is also continually reviewing how we operate our parking services operations and is working on a full cost recovery basis. It is our intention to ensure that we deliver a high standard of service for both on and off street parking provisions. We will continue to evaluate our Parking Charging Policy and ensure we review our whole service as part of our transformation programme

If you have any questions or comments regarding our Parking Annual Report, please let us know by telephoning on 01437 764551 or emailing us at parking@pembrokeshire.gov.uk.

Strategy & Policy

Background

The Strategic Vision of the Council emphasises the promotion of an attractive, clean and healthy environment and the Regional Transport Plan gives recognition that traffic management plays an important part in ensuring safe, effective and rational use of the highway.  

Charging Policy 

• The need to encourage retail trade;
• The need to manage traffic, including on-street parking and traffic flows;
• The need to manage demand effectively;
• The nature of parking location and its users, i.e. urban shopper/business, residential, rural town shopper, beach/visitor;
• Comparison with other providers in the locality;
• The need to encourage the use of more sustainable forms of transport, including public transport;
• Charges are not set purely in order to derive income;
• Have regard to the overall revenue budget provision (expenditure and income) for car parks;
• A presumption in favour of improvements being funded by increased tariff.

These principles are applied consistently, which results in different charges from place to place.

Demand Management

Car parking charges have been considered on a location by location basis. Car parking charges in Pembrokeshire are set to encourage shoppers and are likely to require short-stay spaces. Where car parking is subject to high demand and/or limited capacity, then parking periods and tariffs are carefully set to optimise turnover

Parking Provision in Pembrokeshire

Off Street

The Authority manages car parks to provide for both short stay and long stay users. Charges apply in accordance with Council Policy.

Disabled provision is in accordance with the guidance issued by DfT

On Street

The Authority provides on street parking facilities on the adopted public highway where it is considered appropriate to do so, without undue interference with moving traffic. It makes provision for limited waiting, disabled, loading, taxi, motor cycles and residents.

It has developed robust and fair practices to manage the kerb side to cater for the competing demands of the various users. No restrictions have been implemented that do not have a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to support them.

Our Services

Off Street Parking

The Council has both charging and non-charging car parks; details can be found on the Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) website. PCC has 98 car parks, of which 36 are pay and display. 18 have charges applying all year round and 14 with seasonal charges.

Between 1^st April 2019 and 31^st March 2020 the following were issued

• 198 Season permits
• 86 Reserved bays permits
• 157 Tenby Harbour permits.

A minimum of 6% of spaces have been set aside for Blue Badge holders. The Council waived charges on certain days in December in the lead up to Christmas in all paying car parks through the County.

On Street

There are currently 1035 limited waiting spaces, 127 disabled spaces, 33 Taxi spaces, 3 Bus bays, 28 bays for Loading/Goods unloading bays, 1 ambulance bay and 1 motorcycle bay. Within the overall spaces there remain 636 spaces for Resident / Business Permit Holders.   

Resident Parking

Resident Parking Schemes have been introduced, where practicable, on a number of streets/locations across the County. There are currently 57 schemes in operation (full list on Appendix 1). All schemes on the public highway are operated under the same regulations, one permit per property to a specific vehicle. Permits are valid for a period of up to 12 months. A cost of a permit is £40.00. Visitor permits are available for periods of up to 7 days at a cost of £30.00, again one permit per property to a specific vehicle. Proof of occupancy, valid insurance and an MOT certificate must be provided.

A non-highway scheme is operated in Tenby Harbour where one permit is issued to each property but is not vehicle specific. Cost of a permit is £200.00, this fee was increased on the 1^st March 2018. 

There were 902 annual permits issued between 1^st April 2019 to 31^st March 2020 and 58 visitor permits.

Parking Dispensations

The Council does allow, in certain circumstances, the issue of a Dispensation, which permits a vehicle to park lawfully in contravention of a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO). It may also suspend parking places for the purposes of reserving those places for particular vehicles and/or applicants.

Dispensations will be issued by way of a temporary permit containing the details of the event, the vehicle registration and the date and time of use. The permit must be clearly displayed on the front windscreen of the approved vehicle.

265 dispensations were issued 1^st April 2019 - 31^st March 2020.

Civil Parking Enforcement

Parking and Streetcare Teams

Combining the management and enforcement of both on and off-street parking provides considerable operational and community benefits. In April 2013 the Parking Services team and Streetcare team were combined under one operational manager. Both sections still have their own remit, however, the benefits of this combined service includes:

• Co-ordinated enforcement and control of on and off-street parking
• Co-ordinated enforcement of all highway related issues
• Co-ordination of activities on the highway network
• Management and co-ordination of event affecting on street and off-street activities
• Co-ordination of third party works on the highway
• Managing all licensed activities on and off street
• More effective implementation of policies

Running CPE

Pembrokeshire currently employs 13 Civil Enforcement Officers, 2 Technical Clerks, 2 Parking Services Officers and a Streetcare and Parking Services Officer; they are all supported by the Streetcare and Parking Manager.  They do not receive any performance related bonuses or incentives.  

Penalty Charge Notices (PCN’s) are issued to vehicles which park in contravention of restrictions. If a motorist wishes to dispute a PCN, they must follow the appeal process, which is detailed on the rear of the PCN.

Having operated CPE since February 2011, the Parking Services staff have built up a comprehensive understanding of where and when indiscriminate parking occurs. However, when members of the public are experiencing particular parking problems they can report them to the office. 

The Parking Services team are also responsible for the management of all car parks, Pay & Display machines, financial matters, Resident Permits, Car Park Season and Reserved Permits, Parking Dispensations and Car Park License Agreements for events and compounds  .

The Back Office - Wales Penalty Processing Partnership (WPPP)

The WPPP back office continues to be used to process the issued PCN’s.

There are quarterly meetings, an officers working group, with representatives from each Partner Authority to discuss operational consistency, shares best practice and strives for continual efficiency savings.

Enforcement Agents

The Council currently uses the services of four Enforcement Agents to recover debts, Excel, Proserve, Swift and A J Enforcement. All have considerable experience in this work and provide similar services to other WPPP councils as well as our SWWITCH partners Carmarthenshire County Council, City & County of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.

Performance Delivery & Statistics

Statistical Performance 

The tables below show statistics relating to PCN’s issued during the period 1^st April 2019 to 31^st March 2020.

PCN’s - Progression of Cases

Progression of cases	PCN's issued	%
Number of PCN’s issued on street	7211	55%
Number of PCN’s issued off street	5852	45%
Number of PCN’s paid at discount rate	9277	71%
Number of PCN’s paid after 14 days	1014	8%
Number of PCN’s not paid	153	1.2%
Number of PCN’s  cancelled (see table  6.5)	1301	10%
Total Number of PCN’s issued	13063	-

On Street Parking Contraventions 

Code	Description	PCN's issued	%
01	Parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours	2144	16.5%
02	Parked or loading/unloading in a restricted street where waiting and loading/unloading restrictions are in force	150	1%
12	Parked in a residents or shared use parking place without clearly displaying a permit issued for that place	1642	13%
14	Parked in an electric vehicles’ charging place during restricted hours without charging	0	0%
16	Parked in a permit space without displaying a valid permit	6	0.1%
21	Parked in a suspended bay or part of a bay	47	0.3%
23	Parked in a parking place not designated for that class of vehicle	345	3%
25	Parked in a loading place during restricted hours without loading	454	4%
26	Vehicle parked more than 50cms from edge of carriageway and not within designated parking place	80	0.6%
27	Parked adjacent to a dropped footway	38	0.3%
40	Parked in a designated disabled person parking place without clearly displaying a valid disabled persons badge	8	0.1%
45	Parked on a taxi rank	1	0.1%
47	Stopped in a restricted bus stop	0	0%
48	Stopped in a restricted area outside a school	0	0%
49	Parked wholly or partly on a cycle track	27	0.2%
62	Parked with one or more wheels on part of the road other than between two carriageways	0	0%
63	Parked with engine running where prohibited	0	0%
99	Stopped on a pedestrian crossing or area marked by zigzags	27	0.2%
04	Parked in a meter bay when penalty time is indicated	0	0%
05	Parked after the expiry of paid for time	1	0.1%
06	Parked without clearly displaying a valid pay & display ticket or voucher	4	0.1%
24	Not parked correctly within the markings of a bay/space	11	0.1%
30	Parked for longer than permitted	1586	12%

 

Off-Street Parking Contraventions

Code	Description	PCN's issued	%
74	Using a vehicle in a parking place in connection with the sale or offering or exposing for sale goods when prohibited	3	0.1%
80	Parking for longer than the maximum period permitted	69	0.5%
81	Parked in a restricted area in a car park	46	0.4%
82	Parked after the expiry of paid for time	1079	8%
83	Parked in a car park without clearly displaying a valid pay and display ticket or voucher or parking clock	3505	27%
85	Parked in a permit bay without displaying a valid permit	320	2%
86	Parked beyond the bay markings	455	3%
87	Parked in a disabled persons parking space without clearly displaying a valid disabled persons badge	209	2%
91	Parked in a car park not designated for that class of vehicle	75	1%
94	Parked in a pay and display car park without displaying two valid pay and display tickets when required	0	0%
95	Parked in a parking place for a purpose other than the designated purpose of the parking place.	38	0.3%

PCN’s Cancelled 

• No. of PCN’s cancelled as a result of formal representations - Challenge accepted - PCN's issued: 933 (7%)
• Number of PCN’s cancelled for other reasons (e.g. owner untraceable, CEO error, DVLA unable to provide details)  - PCN's issued: 368 (3%)
• Total cancelled: 1301 (10%)

Comparison

• Number of PCN issued: 14187 (2018-19)      13063 (2019-20)
• Number of PCN’s on street: 7504 (2018-19)      7211 (2019-20)
• Number of PCN’s off street: 6683 (2018-19)      5852 (2019-20)
• Number of PCN’s cancelled: 2050 (2018-19)       1301 (2019-20)

Adjudications decisions made at Traffic Penalty Tribunal 

• Total number: 8 (2018-19)      13 (2019-20)
• Appeal dismissed: 5 (62.5%) (2018-19)      8 (2019-20)
• Appeal accepted: 3 (37.5%) (2018-19)      1 (2019-20)

Financial Information

Financial account

Income and expenditure financial data governed by Section 55 of the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 is presented below:

Income	2018/19	2019-20
Resident Parking Permits  (Includes Resident and Visitor)	£45,536	£45,090
Parking Dispensations	£8,055	£8,789
Penalty Charges	£427,588	£419,972
Contributions others LAs	£12,500	£13,000
Total Income	£493,679	£486,052

 

Expenditure	2018-19	2019-20
Employee Costs	£271,253	£284,714
Premises	£35,904	£30.098
Goods & Services	£14,264	£10,702
Support & Management	£145,497	£162,236
Other Payments	£70,650	£59,613
Capital Charges	£0	£0
Total Expenditure	£552,590	£547,363
(Surplus) / Deficit	£43,888	£61,312

Update on 2018/ 2019 Initiatives

Initiative

Identify long term plan for Haverfordwest Multi Storey car park

Progress

Progress has been made and long term goal set. Financial review now being undertaken 

Initiative

Roll out cashless payment options at Pay and Display machines

Progress

Roll out started December 2019

Initiative

Continue roll out of EV charging points in our car parks

Progress

First EV points installed – further will be rolled out

Initiative

Review mobile enforcement cameras

Progress

Ongoing

Initiative

Continue to review full cost recovery for parking service

Progress

Ongoing

Initiative

Review current pricing structure for Off Street Parking

Progress

Cabinet report dated 9^th March 2020 - Agenda for Cabinet on Monday, 9th March, 2020, 10.00a.m. - Pembrokeshire County Council

Initiative

Identify 3 – 5 year works programme for off-street parking

Progress

Ongoing

Initiative 

Ensure all car park condition and asset data is captured and added to AMX system

Progress

Ongoing

Future Development & Initiatives

In 2020/21 a number of initiatives will be considered, either following on from last year’s activity and issues arising or new initiatives, as follows:

• Develop plans for delivery of the new Haverfordwest Interchange
• Review ANPR Mobile camera for Enforcement
• Continue to Roll out Cashless payments
• Progress more EV charge points
• Introduce Pay by Phone option for parking sessions
• Deliver car park improvements in line with asset management
• Continue to develop AMX for parking services
• Continue collaborative working with Pembrokeshire Coast National Parks in relation to Enforcement and management of their parking places
• Review Motorhome provision

Appendix 1: Resident and Shared Parking Schemes 

Broad Haven

• Marine Road -west side

Dale

• U6006 Dale Fort Road - east side

Fishguard

• Wallis Street –east side
• Coronation Avenue

Haverfordwest

• Bush Row -east side
• Albany Terrace - parking area
• Cambrian Place - east Side
• Cartlett -north side
• Castle Town Area
• North Street - west side
• North Street -east side
• Holloway -north side
• Queens Square - central area
• Crowhill -east side
• Merlins Hill –north side
• Hill Street
• North Crescent - west side
• Winch Crescent - south side

Milford Haven

• Robert Street - north and south side
• Neyland
• Neyland Hill -south side

Pembroke

• Woodbine Terrace - south side
• Pembroke Dock
• Apley Terrace - south side
• Bush Street - north and south side
• Church Street – west and east side
• Gordon Street - west side
• Gwyther Street -west and east side
• Laws Street - west and east side
• Lewis Street – west and east side
• Pembroke Street - west and east side
• Upper Laws Street - west and east side
• Upper Meyrick Street - west and east side

Tenby

• Augustus Place (serving Nos. 1-10) & (serving Nos. 11-18)
• Clareston Road - west and south side
• Culver Park –west and east side
• Greenhill Avenue –west and east side
• Weston Terrace -west side
• Harding Street –north and south side
• Harries Street -west side
• Heywood Court -west side
• Heywood Court - Nos. 74-85 north side Nos.48-64 south side
• Lower Frog Street -east side
• Park Place -north and south side
• Edward Street -south east side
• Park Terrace - south east side
• Penally Road - east side
• Picton Road - west and east side
• Picton Terrace - west side
• Queens Parade -west side
• South Cliff Street -north side
• St Florence Parade - east side
• St Johns Hill -north side
• St Julian’s Street -north west side
• Sutton Street - east side
• The Croft - east side
• The Norton -east side
• The Paragon - south side
• Trafalgar Road - north west and south east side
• Victoria Street - west and east side
• Warren Street - south side

Shared Use Bay (Limited Waiting 1 hour, no return within 1 hour, Mon-Sat 8am-6pm / Permit holders)

Pembroke Dock

• Meyrick Street -west side

Shared Use Bay (Limited Waiting 1 hour, no return within 1 hour 8am – 6pm / Permit holders)

Haverfordwest

• Holloway - north side
• North Street -east side
• Queens Square -central area

St Davids

• New Street –east side