Parking charges reinstated in council Short Stay Pay and Display car parks
Southampton City Council is reinstating enforcement of Short Stay Pay and Display restrictions across the city from Monday 11 May 2020
Southampton City Council is reinstating enforcement of Short Stay Pay and Display restrictions across the city from Monday 11 May 2020. The council suspended parking enforcement of pay and display restrictions as a result of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in order to support all key workers during the unusual and challenging times.
The council has advised that any on street or off street pay and display location with a maximum stay of 2 hours will now be enforced. Parking at these sites will require a valid ticket and failure to display one may result in a Penalty Charge Notice. The relevant Pay and Display machines will be turned back on at these locations and notices will be visible to remind users of the parking restrictions.
The council has reviewed numerous services since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) lockdown commenced in March 2020 and as a result, a variety of services were suspended with the assurance that regular reviews would take place to ensure services were reintroduced in line with government guidance and official advice. In recent weeks, full service has resumed for activities across the city including garden waste and glass collections.
Cabinet Member for Transport & Place, Councillor Jacqui Rayment said: "Services are continually being monitored, the review of parking enforcement was due to take place on 30 April. As a result we have decided that this is the right time to reinstate parking charges at these sites. Enforcement of permit parking restrictions in Resident Parking Zones is still suspended to enable all of our residents to continue to follow social distancing rules and self-isolation when necessary.
"We appreciate that residents are using short stay parking facilities as part of allowed visits to local supermarkets and pharmacies, but we need to make sure that there are parking spaces available for everyone at all times. We are not resuming enforcing enforcement of long stay facilities at this time, so these are available to residents as well."
The council introduced a series of changes to parking enforcement of all council run services in April 2020. It suspended enforcement of Permit Parking and Pay and Display restrictions, but continued to enforce yellow lines, zig zags, disabled bays and other key restrictions for the purposes of keeping the highway clear, maintaining road safety at junctions and protecting the needs of vulnerable users.
Enforcement of Long Stay Pay and Display Parking locations will remain suspended for the time being. This measure is primarily designed to support NHS and Social Care workers in our city working as part of the response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. It is also to ensure people carrying out the vital work of supporting vulnerable members of the community, as key workers in other areas or as volunteers.
Enforcement of Resident Parking Zones 1 – 18, 20, 22 & 23 (the other zones are non-residential) will also remain suspended. This will allow residents to park without receiving a Penalty Charge Notice as it is widely recognised that the majority of residents are observing the government directive and are working from home.
Permit Parking restrictions in Hollybrook Cemetery will also not be enforced at this time to facilitate parking for the additional NHS resources required to tackle the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak. This only applies to the marked bays within the cemetery. Vehicles should not be left on the “No Waiting” restrictions within the cemetery as this space will be required for cemetery operations such as funerals.
The council confirmed that within off street car parks, disabled bays, electric vehicle bays, motorcycles bays and the requirement to park within the bay markings are still subject to enforcement regardless of whether the pay and display restrictions are being enforced.
