Vince Cable

Following serious criticism by an all party group of MPs, the government is shortly to publish proposals for a change in the regulations governing the way in which councils enforce parking restrictions. The proposals will include variable fines, graded for seriousness of the offence; a bar on incentives to wardens to increase the number of tickets; but with tighter penalties for people who are abusive or persistent offenders.

Vincent Cable MP said that he had "numerous complaints from residents affected by what they consider to be unreasonable fines both locally and in other boroughs, especially in Westminster and Kensington where the ferocity of the enforcement regime makes Richmond's look quite moderate. What really annoys people is what happened at Twickenham charity fair where volunteers unloading their vehicles with material for stalls were pounced upon by waiting wardens. There is a backlash building up. We need a sensible balance in which parking laws are properly enforced but in an intelligent and reasonable way".