Nantwich residents are being encouraged to report illegal parking problems as part of a month-long scheme by Cheshire Police.
The Operation Park Safe initiative allows residents to report problems online and is being piloted across the Crewe Local Policing Unit (LPU) throughout January.
As part of the scheme, residents can upload videos and photographs of offending vehicles to the website.
These will be assessed by an experienced traffic officer, who will triage and deal with dangerous parking offences.
Minor traffic obstructions or community impact issues will be allocated to a local PCSO or Beat officer.
If the pilot is successful, officers will look to roll out the scheme across the force.
To report, residents will need to do:
– provide a written statement about the offence, including the date and time it happened. This can be completed electronically
– provide your name, address, date of birth and contact details
– may be required to attend court if the matter is contested
– Do NOT challenge the driver or get involved in confrontation
– Do NOT put yourself at risk to obtain a photograph
Cheshire Police’s Roads and Crime Unit will triage reports and deal with the person responsible.
This may include issuing fines or educational courses depending on the severity of the offence committed.
The scheme aims to deal with:
– Vehicles parked on or in a crossing area: This includes the area covered by zig-zag lines
– Parking on white lines: People cannot stop or park on a road marked with double white lines, even when a broken white line is on your side of the road, except to pick up or set down passengers, or to load or unload. This includes the pavement or verge
– Forcing pedestrians to walk in the road: This includes parking on the pavement where there is not enough room for pedestrians to get past
– Parking at/on a junction: Vehicles cannot stop, park opposite or within 10m of a junction.
– School parking offences: People cannot stop or park on the zig-zag lines or keep clear markings.
– Parking on a cycle track
– Parking a goods vehicle on the road: Vehicles with a maximum laden weight of more than 7.5 tonnes (including trailers) cannot park on a verge, pavement, or any land situated between carriageways, without police permission. The only exception is when this is essential for loading and unloading, but the vehicle cannot be left unattended.
Police do not deal with single and double yellow line offences, which are handled by local authority parking enforcement only.
Sergeant Russell Sime said: “We know that unsafe parking can cause a real nuisance and danger to members of the public.
“But we cannot be everywhere – this initiative relies on the help of active citizens to aid us in making the roads safer.
“However, it is important to note that while we will always try our best to resolve parking issues, there are some offences which do not come under our control.
“The pilot for this operation will only occur to offences that take place in the Crewe LPU area for the month of January 2024.
“This area has been chosen for the initial roll-out due to having the second highest Resident Voice returns for the force in the last quarter.
“We hope residents will make use of this initiative so we can all work together to make our communities a safer place to live.”
John Dwyer, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, said: “I’m really pleased to see Operation Park Safe being trialled in Cheshire.
“Road safety is one of the top issues raised with me and it’s a priority in the Police and Crime Plan, that’s why it’s important for the police and public to work together to tackle things like illegal parking.
“This way of identifying and dealing with offenders has proven successful elsewhere in the country, so I am hopeful that it will be the same in Crewe and then for the whole county.”
To report parking issues as part of Operation Park Safe, visit cheshire.police.uk/park-safe
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The Police are going to be busy if we all do this. They are already to busy to deal with speeding vehicles on Broad Lane!!!!
I can empathise to a point. Specifically if the bike is being is travelling very slowly. However the law and the Highway Code Is very clear. The speed that some cyclist ride on the pavements is excessive. I have experienced at least two scares in recent years. I have even politely challenged two cyclist riding through Nantwich Town Centre against the No Entry Sign .Sadly some cyclists do not show any regard for the pedestrian. The Police are under a duty to apply the law without fear or favour. People are killed by cyclist. The law does not to my knowledge require a horn, bell or audible warning to be fitted to a bike. I stand to be corrected. If I am right I would welcome a change in the law. Rule 66 Highway Code only recommends a bell should be fitted. I may have missed something in my reading. Please tell me if I have.
Yes common sense should prevail. Sadly though I do not want to witness a serious collision or even a fatality involving a cyclist and a pedestrian. Prevention has always being a more effective.
I suggest all road user by an up to date Highway Code. The Hierarchy of Road Users ( Page 5) of the Highway Code is still not in reality understood or practiced consistently.
So the police want us to do their work for them.
Why don’t they get off their arses and do it themselves?
well Ian Hughes if the roads were safe to cyclists then that would be fine, but they are not. I ride the pavements all the time, have done for 20yrs zero problem, the reason is I would not dream of using the bike if a pedestrian was nearby, if you look at most pavements around very few pedestrians are walking there now, it is easy to spot a pedestrian and immediately stop , bikes are allowed in the parks and riverside, same difference, however it is not easy to cycle around town I will agree there, and should not be done
This is a good scheme. However why are the authorities not tackling cyclist who ride on the pavements and ride through Nantwich Town Centre. I have reported one incident of an individual riding an electric bike which appeared to be derestricted in Nantwich Town Centre.
Page 144 of the Highway Code specifically makes reference to a maximum fine of £500 for the offence of cycling on a pavement.
Rule 64 Highway Code. You must not cycle on a pavement.
Rule 68 . You must not ride in a dangerous, careless or inconsiderate manner.
I have a concern that pedestrians should be protected by individual cyclists who fail to comply with the Rules.
This require some attention from the authorities.
If any one knows just how many individuals have been stopped or fined I would welcome the information.
Again many cyclist have no bell or horn to warn you that they are approaching you, some times at considerable speed.
People are killed and injured by dangerous cyclists. Thank goodness it is only minority who ignore the rules.
What a shame this is only Crewe, I hope the scheme is rolled out further, bad parking is a menace