Traders’ like Pickles' plan for parking ticket ‘grace’

Eric Pickles, the Local Government minister, has announced a change in the law, which grants motorists a tenminute leeway on expired parking tickets and bans the use of hated council spy cars except in no-parking zones such as bus lanes and outside schools.

The changes take effect in a matter of weeks and have been welcomed by motorists, business owners and some councillors across the south of the county.

The announcement comes less than a week after the Echo revealed London Road in Southend alone made more money in parking fines – many issued for overstaying time restrictions – than entire cities such as Sheffield and Manchester.

Karen Dalmasi, who runs Danceland at Dalbys in London Road, Westcliff, said: “We have a problem with parking as we tend to have customers in the shop for quite a while for things like having shoes and outfits fitted.

It means they are constantly having to keep a watch for wardens.

“The wardens are generally quite good at holding off for a minute or two, but this would give them that extra bit of time and peace of mind.”

Ashley Ashton of neighbouring business the Glass Studio said the changes would be welcomed both by the firm and its customers.

He said: “Our commercial vans are allowed to park anywhere because it’s unsafe to carry glass large distances, but we do have two other vans which don’t have racks which are constantly getting ticketed.

“As we are quite a rare trade, too, people travel here from all around. We’re hoping these changes will help them, too.”

Martin Terry, Southend councillor responsible for transport, said the company which provides traffic wardens on behalf of the council, already employs a common sense approach by allowing motorists three to five minutes’ grace, but accepted ten minutes would give more reassurance.

The South Essex Parking Partnership, which regulates parking and the spy car in Basildon, Rochford and Castle Point councils, declined to comment.