Local authorities could soon face challenges from residents and business owners over unfair parking charges and the use of yellow lines.
The Government is consulting on proposals that would hand new rights to local people to stand up to what communities secretary Eric Pickles described as ‘over-zealous parking enforcement practices’.
A challenge would be triggered by a petition signed by at least 50 council taxpayers or 10% of residents or businesses affected by council parking policies. Councils would have to respond by publishing details of the petition and a timeline for the review and how local people can participate.
Under the proposals the organiser of the petition must be kept informed on progress and councillors would vote on the review and its recommendations.
Pickles said: ‘Too often yellow lines are imposed on neighbourhoods or the high street without fair consideration of the livelihood of residents, local shops or the availability of parking spaces. Now local people will have a direct and democratic right to trigger a formal council led review of road restrictions in their area.
‘Town centres need to allow for proper traffic flow, but incessant yellow lines, CCTV spy cars and trigger happy parking wardens make everyday life unbearable for drivers looking for somewhere to park when shopping locally.
‘This government is standing up for hard working people and tackling over-zealous parking enforcement practices and unfair parking charges that force people away from the high street and into out-of-town shopping centres or online.’
The Government’s consultation on the proposals will run until 10 October.