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City loses out as enforcers fail to hit ticket targets

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Published Date:
23 February 2008
THE city's parking enforcers handed out 20,000 fewer tickets than promised in the first year of the council's contract with NCP Services.
New figures show that Edinburgh's dreaded parking wardens issued 222,169 valid tickets last year – 3000 fewer than in 2006.

But when NCP Services won the parking contract in December 2006 they told city leaders they would hand out 243,000 fines in the city centre in the first year.

The drop – which comes despite a number of new controlled parking zones – has been put down to motorists becoming more aware of Edinburgh's strict approach to parking offences.

However, fears have been raised that growing numbers of drivers may be choosing out-of-town shopping centres.

Bruce Young, Lothian and Borders co-ordinator of the Association of British Drivers, said: "I think this reflects the fact that fewer people are coming into the city, put off by roadworks and the parking attendants."

The drop in parking tickets over the last year means the council has around £180,000 less in revenue than in 2006.

In 2005 241,425 fines were handed out.

Last summer's strikes by NCP attendants may also account for some of the fall in tickets issued. The firm drafted in around 40 parking attendants from England to cover the disruption but it is thought they issued fewer tickets their striking colleagues.

A spokesman for NCP Services said today: "From our experience across the UK you will typically see a big rise in fines in areas which have just become decriminalised.

"This is because people are still getting used to the rules and the patrols.

"These figures show that there is now a greater awareness of the parking rules and the fact that message is getting across is to be welcomed."

The city council earns around £7 million a year from parking fines, a figure which should grow with the extension of the Capital's controlled parking zone over the coming years.

NCP took over the council's parking contract from CPS in December, 2006 and employs around 110 parking attendants in Edinburgh.

A city council spokeswoman said:"The drop in the number of tickets being issued may be a sign that more drivers have been complying with the rules, which is excellent news."

www.edinburgh.gov.uk



The full article contains 391 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

 
1

Euan,

Edinburgh 23/02/2008 12:28:52
It is great news that fewer tickets have been issued by these legal street robbers.

I advise anyone who gets a ticket from these deplorable people to appeal it - whether it was issued correctly or not.

NCP is a PROFIT MAKING organization and life should be made as hard as possible for them.
2

Council Insider,

At Home 23/02/2008 13:19:54
#1 Wow. Imagine a company being profit making. Is that not the whole point.
3

Paddi,

23/02/2008 14:00:57
People are sick to the back teeth with being "caught" two inches over a white line and being given a £60 fine. shoppers are flocking to ocean terminal and the fort the cente of Edinburgh will lose out
4

Statsman,

Edinburgh 23/02/2008 14:19:06
Is this definitely about people playing by the rules or is it really about the city centre becoming a no stop zone for drivers?

Judging by the state of Princes Street, shoppers with cars are going to other shopping centres where traffic wardens aren't going to harass them.
5

alex paterson,

embra 23/02/2008 14:26:20
Fewer tickets does this mean the wardens are taking pity,or just sitting in a cafe drinking tea.
6

The Sheriff,

23/02/2008 14:27:06
So finally we have the truth,Edinburgh Council look upon using a private company to enforce their parking rules to raise revenue and now the amount of money they expected to receive has fallen below expectations.

For any company to say they can issue an x number of penalty charge notices is naive in the extreme.That's a bit like Lothain & Borders police promising to catch an x number of criminals.

You cannot guarantee how many tickets you can issue anymore than you can guarantee how many criminals can be caught.If you have a continual high level of enforcement then yes you have a chance of achieving your aims, but to say how many is absurd.

With the drop in expected revenue this will expose the council for no doubt counting their chickens before they have hatched by relying on this money that has now not been deliverd......oh dear what services will be cut now?

As Euan at 1 has eluded, everyone should appeal their penalty charge notice,it is your right to do so.Doing so will slow down the revenue stream without any additional charge as the charge of the fine will be frozen to the lower amount if it had been paid within the 14 day period.



7

Champagne Lady,

By the Sea 23/02/2008 14:48:04
Why does everybody keep having a go at Parking Wardens? They're only doing their job. Car owners seem to think they have a right to park anyhow and anyhwhere and by switching on their hazard warning lights they have a "god-given" right to park where they choose.Get real, people - without traffic wardens there would be real problems on the roads!
8

Duncan in Edinburgh,

23/02/2008 15:21:56
I'm really glad there are fewer tickets. I don't see any evidence of fewer people parking in the controlled zones, so it must mean that finally, some people are beginning to get the message that parking illegally costs them money. Hooray.

I think that 222,169 valid tickets is still extraordinarily high, and I hope that all 222,169 instances have caused people to change their approach - read the signs, pay the fees, and keep to the times.

All good news as far as I'm concerned.
9

,

23/02/2008 15:30:35
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
10

joppa jock,

Huntingdon 23/02/2008 15:37:45
People out there still talk about resurrecting small independent shops in our towns and cities. What chance would they have anywhere in Edinburgh. Traffic wardens were originally supposed to relieve police from wasting too much time on parking offences, but now they hover like vultures, pouncing at every opportunity to criminalise motorists. I've just been reading about a guy who was caught riding a scooter without licence or insurance. He was also carrying a carving knife and had already been charged with carrying offensive weapons. He got a suspended sentence which is equivalent to walking free. No wonder motorists are sick to the teeth as they are forced to fork out £60 for something totally trivial and which is far from life threatening.
11

Euan,

Edinburgh 23/02/2008 15:45:43
#2

I'm fully aware the point is to make money, but there lies the negative for this type of organization.

The days have sadly gone when traffic wardens(other than the Police wardens we have patrolling the Greenways etc)were performing a public SERVICE.

Now we have companies like NCP telling the Council that they will bring in X amount of revenue for a certain area - obviously giving each and every warden a ticket target, something which they deny!

Appeal EVERY ticket folks, as #6 says, it's your right to.

NCP make motorists' lives as hard as possible, so it's our duty to do the same to them.


12

earnabob,

23/02/2008 16:14:35
#11 NCP now patrol the greenways so beware.

Targets are part of any large organisation, the police have targets too.
Budgets for the following year are usually worked out this way after all - reach your targets and the bar is raised etc.
While you certainly have the right to appeal any ticket, if you know you were in the wrong and appeal I think you should have an admin fee to pay since you're definitely a chancer.
13

Toast,

23/02/2008 16:31:07
There is absolutely no reason to shop in Edinburgh city centre,out of town centres have most of the popular stores and if it's a serious shop you want Glasgow is only 40mins away,the council are reaping what they have been sowing with their anti-car bias for the last 20 years.
14

Urban Guerrilla,

Edinburgh 23/02/2008 16:54:42
#7 > Why does everybody keep having a go at Parking Wardens? They're only doing their job.

So was the public hangman, in the days when we had one.
15

SlyFifer,

California 23/02/2008 18:54:01
When I lived in Edinburgh I managed to collect 1 parking ticket. I overstayed my welcome in a legitimate parking bay by 3 minutes. I read the ticket. It informed me that 'the crime' had been committed etc. I was so incensed that I had been criminalised for overparking that I tore up the ticket and threw it away. I never heard any more about it, that was over 10 years ago. Had it been presued I would have fought it and never - ever paid any fine until the 'criminal' element of the offense had been removed. Parking is just a misdemeanor - nothing more.
I live here in a major city in California. We have no parking meters whatsoever. Parking is on a 2 hour limit basis in the city centre but there are off street parking garages behind the shops which are free. Sure you see parking attendants driving their little 3 wheeler machines. They are more like glorified tourist guides than wardens and always polite and helpful. They never harass or intimidate. I suppose if they did, their mortality rate would be high. Californians take s*** from no one.
16

Euan,

Edinburgh 23/02/2008 19:34:27
#12

I am aware of NCP taking over control of the greenways - yet more legal daylight robbery on Edinburgh's streets..

I wouldn't say i'm a chancer, I have had three tickets here in Edinburgh, one legitimate, the other two decidedly dodgy, both of which I appealed and one of those was overturned.

I certainly don't feel I should have to pay an admin fee for any ticket I decide to appeal. NCP employ someone for this very process, all I'm saying is that motorists who are unfortunate enough to get a parking ticket should appeal it - and make this person or persons work as hard as possible for their wages.

17

Thistledhu,

fife 23/02/2008 19:41:29
Just go to livinston wwhere there is plenty of parking a massive shopping center and where parking wardens can do nothing as they are privately owned car parks
18

Duncan in Edinburgh,

23/02/2008 19:44:42
#15 So what you're saying is that you broke the rules, got caught, and refused to pay a legitimate fine. And yet you seem to be taking the moral high ground?

For your information, "misdemeanor" is not a word that has any meaning in Scots law. And Edinburgh's streets are simply incomparable to the streets of "a major city in California", where almost all development has been done on the basis of car travel for every journey.

We live in a city with roads and buildings dating back to before the USA was even thought of. The comparison is ludicrous.
19

GorgieRepublic,

Edinburgh 23/02/2008 19:52:13
Since they took over the greenways and police traffic wardens stopped there has been a huge number of chancers parking in them even in the middle of the rush hour,l blocking green lane, cycle lane, stopping in the bus stops or even the zig-zags of pedestrian crossing all because they are too fat and lazy to walk more than a few feet to get their scummy tabloid and fags. They don't give a damn about screwing the traffic for the rest of us trying to get to work or the danger they cause stopping at crossings. Book more of them and eventually maybe the sods will stop, personally I'm sick of my bus being delayed by illegally parked selfish gits or having to squeeze past the small gap left by some eejit who bumps his car or van up onto the pavement. This happens all day every day, so sod the whiners, lets actually enforce the rules on the greenways and crossings and book these folks till they learn. Drivers always moan about how they are treated, but how about how some drivers treat those of us who live and work in the city?
20

earnabob,

23/02/2008 20:18:21
#16 I'm not saying every appeal should have an admin fee, I'm saying any appeal made where it is blatantly an offence should pay a fee for wasting the authority that deals with the appeals time.

#15 Parking attendants here act as a kind of tourist guide too, most will happily give anyone directions and advice on safely parking in the area.
I am not surprised in california people have no trouble with parking attendants, but then your public funds are completely screwed up anyway since it is illegal for any of the taxes to be raised by the local authority. Of course this means whilst it is one of the richest places in the world, it also has some of the worst funded local authorities where people living there complain all the time about the services.
21

Finbarr Saunders,

23/02/2008 20:38:04
I'm not surprised that they are not hitting targets.

Our street is within the CPZ and fully double-lined, but people can park on the double lines for hours at a time and often overnight without fear of any of these NCP wardens putting a ticket on their car.

They seem to be a bit work-shy compared to CPS.
22

Duncan in Edinburgh,

23/02/2008 20:38:30
#19 I agree completely about the selfish, thoughtless idiots who block greenways, bus and cycle lanes and bus stops, but I have seen no change in this behaviour from when the police traffic wardens had responsibility for greenways - they had very little effect either.

I think there should be an all-out blitz on this for a period. It is ridiculous that where greenways and bus lanes are provided for good reason, their effect is removed on a daily basis by people who consider their selfish needs to be more important than everyone else's.
23

cynicalm,

Edinburgh 23/02/2008 21:06:19
As the same cars seem to be parked in yellow lined areas each day without receiving a ticket, could it be, no perish the thought , that the wardens are bring BRIBED!
24

tumshie heid,

23/02/2008 23:39:14
#19
You do realise that not all greenways are active all day don't you?Just how do you expect people to make deliveries?Stop and unload their van onto a bus three miles away?
25

Julian,

EDINBURGH 24/02/2008 01:58:03
Euan,

While I have a few gripes about parking attendants, to tell us all to appeal every ticket is just daft. At the end of the day, whether this is administered by NCP or the council everyone's tax will have to go up to pay for this.

For those saying that getting a parking ticket is a criminal offence, sorry...that's just wrong.
26

COLINTON.MAINS,

Oakville Ontario 24/02/2008 04:16:09
if those arabs buy princes street where the heck are they going to put all them camels
27

Duncan in Edinburgh,

24/02/2008 11:03:26
#24 The problem is categorically not to do with people using the greenways outwith their hours of operation. I walk, or take the bus, to and from work each day and without fail, during the rush hour when the bus lanes are operational, there will be tens of vehicles - mostly private cars but some vans and lorries - blocking the road selfishly.

People should make deliveries, if this is what they are doing, before 7.30am or after 9.30am, and similarly before 4pm or after 6.30pm.

But in reality I don't think the majority of these folk are making deliveies. I think they are stopping off for a paper and a bite to eat, and they are too lazy to park around the corner.

Selfish.
28

The Templar Knight,

Roslin 24/02/2008 12:56:01
Comment #6 I totally agree with you and I knew the Blue Meenies were on a target based commission system, before they were issued with digital cameras there were instances of Blue Meenies inputing registration numbers of passing vehicles into their hip computers and printing tickets for vehicles that were not even parked, all in aid of reaching their Individual Targets. ( which they still deny ) I am all for everyone appealing every ticket this is the way us motorists can stand up to injustice, who gave these little Hitlers the power to cause grief to us poor motorists?.

As for the council worried about loss of earnings, what about the loss of earnings to people making deliveries the cost of getting tickets is passed on to their customers which is passed on to yes even these who go by bus or walk as they use the goods being delivered.

You can't have your cake and eat it?

Comment #7 You talk about problems on the roads, picture this nobody going into the city, ( bliss you think ) everybody shopping outside, ( again bliss you think ) now the wake up call... businesses having to close, Tourists scared away ... and all because the Blue Meenies got a little bit of Power....





29

Gogzy,

24/02/2008 16:08:33
not all of the traffic wardens are evil there are a few who are alright and actually have a smile on their faces,

i argued with a traffic warden once though because i was parked in a loading bay doing a delivery while taking a tacho break but had finished the delivery. i was 3 mins short of finishing my tacho break and im not risking losing my licence or having to waste another half hour taking another break because the wardens not making up his daily qouta plus if i get a ticket i have to pay for it out my own money so ive got a right to shout off at him if im not illegally parked, it would be a different story if i was illegally parked.

granted i used to have my fair share of bad parking when i drove vans but if i did park in a bus lane i would make sure i was only there for 2 minutes max and always try bump it up onto the pavement.

#27 sometimes its not possible to make deliveries between those times for obvious (not so obvious to you) reasons

1) legally a trucker can only work 9 hours a day though that can be exptended to 10 hours a day but only twice a week
2)we might not be anywhere near those areas at that time in the day
3) some of us start work at 5 in the morning and sometimes you just cant help being in that area at that time but hey i can tell you work in an office and dont understand.
30

Ghost Of Scotland Past,

24/02/2008 17:14:48
30) There you go then, the answer in one. Not only beats the parking problem, helps traffic flow and reduces congestion. It makes the trams redundant, and gets a jump on any a-rabs trying to buy Princes Street. What am I talking about? Your first sentence, the answer to all our
problems is drive through shops.
31

James (1),

24/02/2008 18:12:09
A company you employ, because they tell you they will issue more tickets than the previous company, fails to reach the promised target. So what do they forfeit?
What did you say? Nothing, they lose nothing? Well then my company (which I am going to start next week) will be able to do 2 million more tickets than them so can I have the contract please?
Let think of a name- Scottish Parliament building and parking company. Our motto- We saw you coming!
32

Pilrig.,

Livingston 25/02/2008 06:22:37
7 - it's the only job thay can do ! Why dae ye think they're wardens in the first place ? !
33

Pilrig.,

Livingston 25/02/2008 06:23:47
19 if you've any savvy you'll get oot of the city !
34

paulr,

edinburgh 25/02/2008 08:51:09
Take notice of the important words here
"valid tickets "
in the past more than 60% of parking tickets were legally challenged and thrown out.
How can NCP guarantee the number of tickets they will issue unless a large number of them are not legally valid?
35

paulr,

edinburgh 25/02/2008 08:52:46
If you want to beat the "Enforcers" then park on a yellow line, they cant touch you unless you park in a properly marked parking bay
36

I C Weiner,

25/02/2008 08:54:13
Park in the right place - get a ticket.
Park in the wrong place - get a fine.

Pretty simple
37

I C Weiner,

25/02/2008 08:55:25
What i meant was:

Park in the right place - don't get a ticket.
Park in the wrong place - get a ticket.

38

Tricky Dickie ,

25/02/2008 10:44:42
#36

if you want to beat the enforcers, use your fists!! I hate them! I was going back to my car, 2mins left on ticket and the guy was writing me out a ticket! I asked what the hell he was doing and he said I only had 2 mins left and he was getting my ticket ready!! Its no wonder people lose the rag at these guys!! #rsholes the lot of them!!
39

Cheese burger,

Edinburgh 23/07/2008 11:31:42
How can you possibly say, in advance, how many 'crimes' are going to be committed? It's ridiculous.
No wonder they keep slapping more and more of us with these ridiculous CPZ's. They're desparate to make money, and need the chance of more of us parking squint to do it.

 

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