Cars parking in a public square will start being fined, the council has said.
Dozens of cars started using St Peter’s Square as an unofficial free car park last year.
The council put up barriers to stop this last November – but these were moved for the Euro fan zone in June and not put back once it left the site.
Cars have started creeping back onto the square – so now the council is contracting a private enforcement company to start ticketing them.
A spokesperson for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “We are aware cars have once again started parking at St Peter’s Church and we are determined to put a stop to this as soon as possible.
“We have listened to residents and understand how frustrating people find the parking on this site and will be adding this area to one of our contracts with a private enforcement company.
“This will come into effect soon and anyone subsequently parking on the site will be fined.
“In the meantime, we would encourage residents and visitors to please refrain from parking here.”
The land to the south of St Peter’s Church was transformed into an events space during the Valley Gardens works between 2019 and 2020, with the car park that used to be there moved to the other side of the church.
Since then, it has been used to host events including Christmas markets.
To get to the square, they must drive over a pavement and a cycle lane, turning off a lane of moving traffic.
It all seems so complicated that No Parking signs and the existing traffic wardens can’t seem to do anything. The same as parking on pavements isn’t illegal just driving on pavements .
I hope the private enforcement company are not an extra cost and relying on fines for payment but businesses love getting council contracts
“The same as parking on pavements isn’t illegal just driving on pavements.”
Are the cars lifted into place on the pavements? If they are on the pavement and they were not lifted there then how do the council suppose they got there? Magic?
A car parked wholly on the pavement – the two along the road from me – MUST have driven there so can be given a ticket.
Maybe I’m stupid and missing something obvious but I kinda doubt it.
Yes. But it difficult legally. The answer seems to be making Pavement / Verge parking a specific offence. This is something that may be implemented on a case by case basis. I believe this has been the case with eg the bottom of Elm Grove on the LHS descending. It had become chaotic with pedestrians facing vehicles driving on the pavement to find spaces on the verge. Something similar around the corner on Lewes Road with the fast food outlets but this has been largely dealt with by the Red Route there.
You’re right, you need a specific enforcement notice in place, a notification, and a grace period. (We set this up for our area before). Otherwise, an expansion of the same legislation that governs London, prohibiting it completely within the City, although I believe some areas wouldn’t be able to manage that with its current layout – Hangleton bus routes come to mind.
Apparently, sadly driving on a pavement whilst parking, doesn’t appear to be illegal. A person in my road does this all the time.
Section 72 of the Highway Act 1835 begs to differ. Road Traffic Act 1988 would also like to say a word.
It seems quite simple tbh. If an additional area is being added to an existing contract the the contract cost will obviously increase. Whether existing or additional staff are used ios a separate issue but extra work = extra £s. The judgement is whether there is an associated benefit that makes that additional cost worthwhile. That may, or may not, involve income from fines covering the additional financial costs.
It says ‘public square’ in the article so how can BHCC fine the public for using it?
Because a public square shouldn’t be used for the storage of private property. It’s so obviously a terrible location for a car park, can’t believe people need it explaining to them. Just shows how entitled motorists are.
Well tbh some people just act dumb for laughs.
Yes – of course somewhere being a public space doesn’t imply any behaviour or use is permitted,
eg restrictions on dogs on beaches ; Barbecues on beaches / lawns and suchlike.
Cheers.
Its the council fault ! They allow the space to be used as a car park during Pride, meaning Wundas Magic Weekend was held on grassed areas instead of hard surface events space. Yet another reason to sign Save our Green spaces Petition on council website. 1250 signatures needed
That still going Derek? Good on you. We’re doing something more definitive at the moment, and if it’s successful, could set a good standard for protecting green spaces.
Free parking in Brighton? We can’t have that say the Transport department!
Time to send cllr Shanks out to shout at the perpetrators
I believe the council are guilty of blurring whether the square is a car park or not. If it is sometimes used as a car park, then you can’t blame people for using it.
I take it that if those that parked there were the travelling community, then they wouldn’t be ticketed by a private enforcement company? Is this discrimination, and therefore the council acting illegally?
The rules need to be applicable to all, or no-one. The council need to sort themselves out between extended holidays, 3 months sick leave for ‘stress’, flexible working hours and job-sharing. Grow a pair, do your job, and sort our city out.
As many people have said before, BHCC Transport Dept is not fit for purpose – too many ‘officers’ doing F all, and with an agenda of screwing up traffic and milking the motorist
You’re not seriously suggesting that it’s unclear that this area is not a car park, are you? For crying out loud, what does it take for people to lay the responsibility where it lies, with these selfish drivers? Fine them or better yet, tow them away, whoever they are.
+1
That Corsa got 82,563 miles on the clock. Not bad for a 12 year old car.