Denbighshire has appeared in the Telegraph twice in what is almost as many weeks. The first was a highly positive January story on how Rhuthun reached the UK top 50 towns in which to live. Nowhere else in Denbighshire and indeed Wales made it in.The second was a report last Sunday seemingly naming Denbighshire as 15th out of almost 100 where parking fines have increased (by 17 per cent over a year).
The Vale Advertiser picked up the story and quoted a spokesperson for the Federation of Small Businesses, who said, “the council is restricting growth by preventing custom by overzealous parking enforcement”, branding a 17 per cent increase in penalties as “unacceptable”.
But doesn’t there need to be a sense of balance here? Should we really have to put up with lazy drivers who clutter out streets? Whatever happened to the motorists’ responsibility in observing the regulations? What would happen to road safety and traffic movement in the parking free-for-all the Federation seems to want?
And neither are we persuaded that so-called heavy parking enforcement is likely to deter visitors. If someone arrives in Denbighshire from Liverpool or Manchester, they will know just how “zealous” city wardens can be. They wouldn't expect to get away with it there. Why here? Should we simply allow our visitors to abandon their cars just anywhere?
Parking used to be the responsibility of the police, till 2004. Up to then, Rhuthun’s solitary police warden was spread somewhat thinly serving other towns as well. The hike in tickets issued doesn’t seem to deter Rhuthun’s motorists, in spite of a far higher presence since the council took over. Over the last five years, unlawful park’s still a problem in the town, much to the detriment of the townscape. Hotspots:
- St Peter’s Square—causing difficulties in manoeuvring and loss of amenity to historic townscape
- Wynnstay Rd/Well St—causing congestion and need for reversing, impedes traffic
- Market St (top)—causing difficulties in manoeuvring, difficulties for pedestrians
- Well St—loss of vsual amenity, impedes traffic
- Well St/NatWest Bank rear—causing difficulties in manoeuvring
- Clwyd Street (top and bottom of)—congestion, delay, narrowing of roadway, difficulties for pedestrians
Tags:
Parking