Parking penalties in the borough fall by 25 percent (From Times Series)

Parking penalties issued by Barnet Council around the borough fall by 25 percent

11:34am Thursday 12th August 2010 in News By Kevin Bradford

THE number of parking penalties issued by Barnet Council fell by a quarter last year.

Figures released by London Councils show the total number of penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued for traffic infringements in the borough decreased by about 47,500, from 190,144 between April 2008 and March 2009, to 143,386 in the following 12 months.

There were 112,850 parking PCNs while 30,536 were issued for contraventions by drivers in bus lanes.

Across the city, the number of PCNs issued by borough councils and Transport for London fell by 22 per cent, down to 4,855,000.

A statement from Barnet Council said the fall coincided with new parking payment schemes that have been introduced across the borough.

It said: “Issuing penalty charge notices is not about making revenue for the council, but keeping traffic moving safely across the borough.

"The decrease in PCNs is due in large part to the introduction of more user friendly schemes, such as cashless parking, free after 3 and e-permits.

“In turn this has led to improved cooperation and compliance from the borough's motorists."

Councillor Catherine West,chair of London Councils’ transport and environment committee which collated the data, said civil enforcement on motorists is working.

She said: “The recession has meant that traffic levels are down so there is less pressure on parking spaces and less illegal parking.

“I would also remind anyone who feels they should not have received a ticket that they have the right to appeal to the independent Parking and Traffic Appeals Service who have the final say in every disputed case.”