County Councillor Gartree May 22
Parking Tickets
Yellow lines along streets are governed by traffic regulation orders (TROs). These are legal documents that restrict or prohibit the use of the highway network. Communities are often surprised at the length of time it can take to progress a scheme.
It’s the highways authority’s responsibility to make sure a fair process is undertaken in determining a TRO, and key to the process is a clear specification, such as width of line (Conservation Areas can have narrower lines) and exact length, and then a robust consultation.
Traffic Regulation Orders
TRO consultations, combined with statutory processes, can mean a typical, and often simple, TRO can take between 12 and 18 months to deliver. Complex or contentious TROs can take longer. This length of time means they are expensive to produce, so a relatively simple request for a length of double yellow lines or parking restrictions on a road can cost £7,500 or more just for the TRO to be completed, and then the actual yellow lining needs funding and booking.
Why am I providing this detail about TROs? Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs – better known as traffic wardens) who may patrol streets during working hours and find a vehicle parked on yellow lines can issue a parking fine or Penalty Charge Notice.
These officers are employed by HDC as they also patrol off-street parking such as chargeable car parks (none in the Kibworths). The funding for on-street patrolling is provided by the county council, who therefore have a say in where the limited resource is used; they are usually found in Market Harborough, Lutterworth or Broughton Astley, but rarely are they seen in villages such as the Kibworths or Great Glen.
In a lot of cases, the parking restrictions that are in place are generally self-enforcing without the need for regularly patrolled enforcement. However, times are changing and after requesting further patrols for the Kibworths, there were two recent enforcement patrols on the 1 and 4 of June, with five vehicles being placed under observation and two tickets issued.
So, the moral of this section is that you have been warned. Park on yellow-lined, traffic restricted sections of road and you could receive a parking ticket.
Royal British Legion Centenary
On 28 May I was very privileged, in my role as Chairman of LCC, to be invited to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and Royal British Legion (RBL) Leicestershire and Rutland Centenary Dinner at the King Power Stadium.
I have wondered why wreaths and poppies for Remembrance Day are made of non-recyclable red plastic, so I asked the National RBL Chairman. He explained that plastic poppies can be washed and not simply discarded, although this would impact on the RBL donations! There is research into recyclable cloth poppies underway, but they will probably not be around for year or two.
Kibworth Jubilee Celebration
A massive thank you to the hundreds who turned up on the overcast afternoon of Sunday 5 June at the Smeeton Road Rec. Kibworth Beauchamp Parish and Harborough District Councils had provided small grants so that the Kibworth Scouts and helpers could put on music and a fantastic array of pop-up gazebo stalls.
These included an outside bar by the Coach and Horses, St Wilfrid’s Church Prayer tent, The Well sold cakes and drinks, the Scouts’ BBQ used meat from Bridge67, tombola and raffle, samosas, plants, crafts and many more. A blow-up bouncy castle and slide were enjoyed by the children and the Ice Cream van was busy all afternoon.
Although a sunnier afternoon might have encouraged more to attend, it was a great opportunity for some fresh air and meeting with friends old and new.
kevin.feltham@leics.gov.uk
Festival of Cycling
