Motorists could be allowed to park free of charge on double yellow lines for up to 15 minutes under plans being considered by the Government to help boost high street businesses (BBC News).
Under the proposals, drivers in England could be given a "grace period" to pick up goods from shops, or be permitted to leave their cars in bays for longer without being fined.
The BBC News report says that some councils already allow motorists to park free of charge for up to 30 minutes close to shops and Conservative ministers in the coalition Government are keen to extend that to give a shot in the arm to small shops. However, their Lib Dem coalition partners are understood to have reservations.
Speaking last month, Lib Dem transport minister Norman Baker said it would be wrong for ministers to interfere with councils’ parking policies. However, he confirmed the maximum and minimum fine levels that are set by the Government are to be reviewed.
The Local Government Association, which represents more than 300 councils in England and Wales, said double yellow lines "kept people safe and traffic moving" and there were "better ways" to attract people to high streets.
The AA said a thorough review of yellow line restrictions was needed to ensure they do not "run out of control".
Edmund King, AA president, said: “Many double lines are there for historical reasons and could be lifted. There is plenty of opportunity to ease back on the signs and lines in many places, giving drivers short-term waiting bays instead so they can stop briefly to buy a paper or loaf of bread.”
Click here to read the full BBC News report.
I have just seen temporary signs go up in Blackpool streets with double yellow lines that say Shopping and dropping off and pick up point for Christmas. And they are nowhere near shops!
bob craven Lancs
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Alan: Well put. Unfortunately it seems to be the way of the world now that some people do what suits them for their own convenience, regardless of the law and woe betide anyone – official or not – who tries to tell them otherwise.
Hugh Jones, Cheshire
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I think there is a pilot scheme being run in my home town of Keynsham near Bath because in the High Street there are cars parked on double yellow lines, clear ways, pedestrian crossing controlled zones, pavements and very little enforcement. It could of course be traffic calming, if enough people park illegally then everything grinds much slower and pollution increases. Hey ho!
Alan Hale – South Gloucestershire.
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Rash generalisations aside. Parking provision should be reviewed nationally in the light of the fact that people would rather go out of town to shop if they have a car than into towns. This isn’t because parking is difficult, it is because who wants to go to the dirty, smelly congested town full of cars and lorries when you can go to the nice big shopping oasis on the outskirts of town. Remove some of the parking in town centres. Replace it with pedestrian/cycle only precincts and that will provide the shot in the arm for local businesses.
Steve, Merseyside
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Has Mr King been round the country personally checking all the current waiting restrictions and signs and concluded that some can be removed? Or is this yet another rash generalisation so prevalent in these news stories?
Hugh Jones, Cheshire
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