Lib Dem Councillor Moves to Stop Illegal Parking

10.05.00pm GMT Sat 12th Jan 2008

Cllr Bob Wright With Parking Notice

An initiative by Lib Dem District Councillor Bob Wright (Lawrence ward, Crediton) is likely to get official backing. Cllr Wright has been concerned about non-disabled drivers parking on pavements and in spaces reserved for disabled people. He researched what action had been taken elsewhere to combat this problem and discovered that gummed labels were available to place on the windows of offending vehicles. Cllr Wright said "Often there are no police or traffic wardens around to move vehicles on and this seems to me to be a low-level response appealing to drivers to behave more considerately in future."

Cllr Wright obtained copies of labels used elsewhere and has taken up the matter with the local councils, police and Access Group. Mrs Yvonne Pope of Crediton & District Access Group said: "This is a real problem that causes a great deal of difficulty for disabled people and if we can reduce the incidence by encouraging drivers, in a non-threatening way, not to cause these problems in the first place, we would be very pleased."

The police and Mid Devon Community Safety Partnership are now considering how best to implement Cllr Wright's proposal. Cllr Wright said: "I am anxious that no-one is encouraged to risk damaging other people's property or create any conflict but this problem must be addressed. The police cannot be everywhere and as we approach the time when the District Councils take over the enforcement of on-street parking regulations, it seems to me this is a common-sense solution."

Contact: Bob Wright

Tel. 01363-773566

Email: robert.wright48@btinternet.com