Westminster rolls out common sense parking in the heart of the capital (30/01/2008)

Resident permit holders will be given a five-minute allowance when stopping on a single yellow line after Westminster City Council introduced a series of measures to make life easier for motorists parking in central London.

For a six-month trial period, parking attendants will allow permit holders to be away from their cars for up to five minutes when collecting or picking up passengers and loading or unloading without handing them a fine.

The move comes after comments from Westminster residents that they sometimes need to leave their vehicles unattended for a short time when carrying out these activities.

This allowance will only apply to vehicles displaying a valid resident permit for that zone and stopped on a single yellow line that does not have any loading restrictions in place.

If after five minutes, no loading or unloading is noted, the parking attendant will then issue a penalty charge notice.

This initiative is one of five 'Common Sense' parking measures rolled out across the city today (Thursday, January 31) to make it more convenient for motorists in the heart of the capital.

Councillor Danny Chalkley, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Transport, said:

"These measures are designed to improve motorist's experiences of parking in Westminster. They pass the "Ronseal" test.

"We will still take a firm line with people who flout the parking laws but we are also ensuring that a common sense approach is used to make parking in Westminster as easy as possible."

The other Common Sense parking measures introduced today are:

* Allowing white disabled badge holders a month to renew their expired permits. Some white badge holders have experienced difficulties renewing their badges in time as they may need assistance with filling out an application or need to provide additional information.

* The introduction of a suspensions hotline, enabling customers to report out of date suspensions, damaged signs, incorrect signs or instances when a suspension sign is in place but no activity is being carried out.

* No fines will be issued to resident permit holders who park in suspended bays in their own zone for the first two days of a suspension. Motorists are not always aware that a suspension has been put in place and the council will try and contact the resident by phone to ask them to move their car. A ticket will only be issued as a last resort after the second day and the vehicle removed to a car pound if there is no possibility to relocate it nearby.

* 'Return to Service' stickers will also be sent to residents who have booked a suspension for a domestic move. Once the suspension sign is no longer needed, they can stick them onto the suspension signs, meaning the bays can be returned to use as soon as possible, minimising any disruption.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

To contact the suspensions hotline call 0207 823 4567

The five minute grace period applies to resident permit holders for loading/unloading and picking up or dropping off on a single yellow line.

This is not a grace period to park for five minutes and penalties will be issued to those leaving their car parked. Suspensions may be put in place on residents parking bays when work needs to be carried out nearby or for access purposes, e.g. for the removal lorry when moving home. Residents can apply for a suspension to be put in place.

A White disabled badge is given to disabled residents in Westminster who meet the qualifying criteria. The white badge gives them free and time unlimited access to paid for parking bays and residents bays throughout Westminster, so long as the bay is not suspended.