Ormskirk's top spots for parking fines exclusively revealed

Jan 22 2009 by Michael Byrne and Laura Jones, Ormskirk Advertiser

ORMSKIRK’S parking ticket hotspots are revealed exclusively today by the Advertiser.

Our statistics show that 19,808 tickets have been dished out in the top 10 parking ticket locations alone in the last five years.

The figures, obtained using the freedom of information request, show that Two Saints car park tops the most ticketed 10 car parks in Ormskirk with almost 5,000 penalty charges notices (PCNs) issued in five years.

Since Lancashire County Council’s parking enforcement arm ParkWise started patrolling car parks in the town in 2004 the tickets have been totting up.

Before ParkWise took over, on-street parking offences were dealt with by the police with council officers responsible for off-street parking – now the council’s own army of ticket wardens dish out PCNs to drivers.

They are most likely to issue a ticket in Two Saints Car Park, Wheatsheaf Car Park, The Stiles Car Park, Park Pool Car Park, Market Way Car Park, Bus Station Car Park, Railway Road, Derby Street Car Park, Moorgate and Aughton Street.

Between September 6, 2004 and January 12 this year almost 20,000 PCNs have been issued in those sites, and if each of the drivers was charged the minimum fine of £25 ParkWise would have raked in £495,200.

But this figure could rise to as much as £1,386,560 if the maximum fine of £70 was handed out each time.

Explaining why the PCNs were issued, a ParkWise spokesman said: “West Lancashire is a widespread rural area with concentrated towns; this means there are large numbers of commuters, shoppers and visitors travelling into the towns on a daily basis.

“The provision of council car parks helps to alleviate congestion on the roads and the findings provide evidence of effective traffic management.

“Car parks exist to provide lots of parking spaces; this means there are a higher number of parking regulations which can be contravened in a concentrated space.”

Users of Two Spires car park were unimpressed with the statistics.

Maria Georgiou, of Ormskirk, said: “It is bad that so many are given out.

“It won’t bring people back again, it’s not right. I own a business here and people come to our market town to browse, go for lunch and coffee.”

Charles Walsh, of Liverpool, added: “A thousand tickets a year is a lot really.

“We’re here spending the money – why should we be penalised? I’ve never had a ticket here, though.”

During the last financial year ParkWise made £183,195 from issuing 6,410 PCNs in West Lancashire – meaning that the average driver is fined £30 for a parking offence.

PCNs issued prior to April 1, 2008, were issued at £60, with the cost of the fine reduced to £30 if paid with 14 days.

After that date a change in legislation came into effect, with two levels of parking fines issued depending on the parking offence committed.

Drivers committing more serious offences are now hit with a £70 fine (£35 for prompt payment) and lesser offence incur a £50 fine (£25 for prompt payment).

NUMBER of Penalty Charge Notices issued between September 6, 2004 and January 12, 2009.

Two Saints Car Park: 4,897

Wheatsheaf Car Park: 4,505

The Stiles Car Park: 2,477

Park Pool Car Park: 2,078

Market Way Car Park: 1,818

Bus Station Car Park: 1,734

Railway Road: 758

Derby Street Car Park: 630

Moorgate: 484

Aughton Street: 427