Hundreds of drivers fined over school parking

More than 430 people were hit with charges during the autumn 2023 term, a report for Walsall Council's cabinet said

Hundreds of parents and carers found to have parked poorly when dropping children at Walsall schools were fined last term.

More than 430 people were hit with charges during the autumn 2023 term, according to a report prepared for Walsall Council’s cabinet ahead of a meeting on the issue of school parking.

Those fined were part of a wider group of more than 2,500 people who received warnings they could face fines.

The traffic surge around schools at drop-off and pick-up times was increasing the risk of collisions, unlawful parking and congestion, the report added.

The authority set up a working group in 2022 to look into the issue of school parking. It came up with 16 recommendations including on partnership-working, education and the enforcement of traffic rules.

The cabinet will look at the progress so far on those recommendations when it meets on 20 March.

The report said the most significant area of progress was “moving traffic enforcement”.

Cameras were installed at 10 streets near to schools and enforcement started in September.

Walsall Council issued 2,556 warnings and 432 penalty charge notices across the these streets last term.

During the first six months of the scheme, councils are required to issue a warning in the first instance and advise any further offences at the same location will result in a fine, the report added.

Since 2022, councils in England outside of London have been able to apply for powers to enforce "moving traffic offences", which include stopping in yellow-box junctions and illegal U-turns.

These powers had previously been held only by the police.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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