Residents and visitors to Southport are being penalised for an outdated parking policy which takes no account of the new modern technology now available at parking meters.

The Council have invested in new parking machines which now allow motorists to pay for parking using their bank card but Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Sue McGuire has raised concerns that the policy regarding parking tickets needs to be reviewed and updated.

Councillor McGuire said

“I understand the current Council policy that it is the motorists’ responsibility to ensure that a valid parking ticket is displayed at all times whilst the vehicle is parked. But what concerns me, is when a motorist appeals a parking fine for non-display and is able to provide evidence that a parking ticket was purchased by card, Sefton Council still insist on payment of the fine. This is grossly unfair – surely if you can show a receipt for payment, that should be enough for the fine to be withdrawn”.

Councillor McGuire added,

“The law says that, ‘An authority has a discretionary power to cancel a PCN at any point and that authorities have a duty to act fairly and proportionately’. In the situation outlined, the law seems pretty clear, proof of purchase has been provided and I don’t understand how it can be deemed ‘fair’ to penalise a person who paid to park”

Councillor Mike Booth has also raised similar concerns about fines being issued when parking tickets are not displayed.

Councillor Booth explained,

“Most places in the UK now provide tickets which have an adhesive strip that allows them to be fixed to the windscreen. Why, when the Council were investing so much in new machines, was this option not considered?”

Councillor Booth added

“I have asked Sefton Council to explain their decision and have been given a range of reasons including hot weather and condensation – but if most other places can manage, why can’t Sefton? It would save a huge amount of stress for motorists who are sometimes being penalised for a draft of wind.”

This doesn't feel right, a parking press release from the Libs without a sound bite from Cllr Dawson, he must be really busy on his "working" holiday, possibly it's a fact finding mission of how parking meters are managed in Northern Canada or Australia. Like the one in the picture some parking meters that you pay using your phone and can top up remotely if running late (maybe not this one though) so would hardly call an adhesive ticket advances in technology unless they've found an old box set of "tomorrow's world".

This doesn't feel like the biggest issue in town worthy of a press release hugging one of the meters. It's becoming pretty tiresome to have our paid electives "raising concerns" or "calling for (but not calling anyone)". This isn't what we elected them for not what they'd have said their time served would be doing.

They should bring back 30 minutes parking as there's nothing more annoying when you go into town just to visit the bank (as most Banks only have a town branch now) for what is normally no more than a 5/10 mins. Visit!!!

Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Sue McGuire has raised concerns that the policy regarding parking tickets needs to be reviewed and updated..

#hold the front page
#worthlesssoundbite
#toolittletoolate
#nobodyislisteningtoyou
#raisingconcernsisnotgettingthingsdone

Originally Posted by myrtle

They should bring back 30 minutes parking as there's nothing more annoying when you go into town just to visit the bank (as most Banks only have a town branch now) for what is normally no more than a 5/10 mins. Visit!!!

Or going to the dentist on Hoghton St. Paying for 30 minutes for a 10 minute appointment was just about acceptable, but an hour is ridiculous.