Edinburgh Council have laid out new plans to put a stop to 'inconsiderate parking', handing out instant fines to those who park their vehicles in cycle lanes and pavements.
The changes, which were laid out in a new report, noted: "Vehicles parking on and obstructing footways and cycleways is an ongoing problem in Edinburgh and whilst the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 introduces a welcome nationwide ban against footway parking, the necessary regulations have yet to be published to allow Local Authorities to use these powers."
The council are now removing the requirement for any observation period to vehicles which park or obstruct footways and cycleways. They've authorised giving instant parking tickets for these circumstances, reports the EEN.
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From Monday (February 20), the changes were made. The council confirmed that parking attendants were previously only able to take enforcement action if there is a kerbside restriction in place, and Police Scotland can only take action if they physically witness the vehicle driving on the footway.
The report continued: "The parking team receive regular complaints about vehicles which are parking on or obstructing the footway or cycleway and there are numerous images of such occurrences posted on social media every day.
"Parking attendants are asked to react to the requests for enforcement that they receive, however in many cases they are unable to take any action against the vehicle as there are no kerbside restrictions.
"As things currently stand, parking attendants are only able to take enforcement action if there is a kerbside restriction in place and Police Scotland are only able to act if they physically witness the vehicle actually driving up on the footway. Additionally, parking attendants are currently expected to follow standard enforcement procedures, including giving observation periods in some cases, when issuing parking tickets to vehicles on the footway or in cycleways.
"Given the issues that can be created by footway and cycleway parking, although it remains necessary that a kerbside restriction must be in place, it is proposed to remove the requirement to provide any observation period to vehicles which park on and obstruct footways or cycleways and that authorisation be given for instant parking tickets be issued in such circumstances."
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