Talks to change street parking enforcement?

DISCUSSIONS on whether to hand over responsibility for enforcing on-street parking restrictions in Rother could be on the horizon.
26/3/13- Congestion and parked delivery vehicles in Battle High Street26/3/13- Congestion and parked delivery vehicles in Battle High Street
26/3/13- Congestion and parked delivery vehicles in Battle High Street

The police are currently responsible for issuing tickets for illegal parking on the streets of Battle, Rye and Bexhill.

But there are indications that the police may be seeking talks about potentially decriminalising parking across the district.

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At a Battle Town Council meeting last week, one Police Community Support Officer told councillors that an approach had been made ‘to the relevant local authorities’ to consider decriminalising parking.

Rother used to have dedicated traffic wardens, but the role was phased out in Rother several years ago.

Since then the Neighbourhood Policing Teams in Battle, Rye and Bexhill have been responsible for enforcing on- street parking restrictions.

Inspector James Scott, of the Rother NPT, confirmed he had spoken to Malcolm Johnson, director of resources at Rother District Council, about the issue.

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He said: “We are looking at all options available to us in terms of maintaining parking enforcement in Rother.”

A spokesperson for Rother District Council confirmed that Mr Johnson had passed on the request for talks to East Sussex County Council, which is responsible for the roads around the county.

But an East Sussex County Council spokesman denied the authority had any knowledge of any request.

He said: “We are not aware of any formal request from the police for the county council to take over parking enforcement in Rother district.

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“At present we have no powers to carry out parking enforcement outside the Lewes, Eastbourne and Hastings district and borough council areas.”

Rother District and Wealden District are the only two authorities in East Sussex where parking has not been decriminalised.