Fines after crackdown targets poor parking and bad driving

A joint Canterbury City Council and Kent Police operation to tackle illegal parking and anti-social behaviour in the city centre saw 20 penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued. 

The operation took place on the evening of Friday 16 August and aimed to address concerns from residents about nuisance parking and poor driving behaviour from moped riders, including fast food delivery vehicles. 

Offences for which PCNs were issued by city council civil enforcement officers included parking on yellow lines, parking in areas with loading restrictions, parking in residents’ bays with no valid permit and parking in disabled bays without a valid Blue Badge on display. 

The recipients included delivery riders and drivers. 

Some PCNs were dished out to people parked illegally while picking up takeaways.  

Locations covered were Canterbury Lane, Iron Bar Lane, St Peter’s Street, St Peter’s Grove, Tower Way, Black Griffin Lane car park, Tower Way car park and Orange Street car park. 

Cabinet Member for Enforcement, Cllr Connie Nolan, said: “We carry out regular joint ops with our police colleagues to tackle these problems, which residents and business owners in the city centre tell us is one of their top concerns. 

“Anyone who thinks we will lose focus or ease up the pressure is mistaken. This work will continue and we know that the public backs us with this. 

“Delivery drivers and riders have been told very clearly what the rules are and there are simply no excuses for not obeying them.  

“We’ll be back again very soon and more fines will be issued to those who fail to behave in the correct way.” 

Canterbury police Sergeant Ben Norbury said: “We understand public concerns about dangerous riding around Canterbury and will continue to carry out joint operations like this one to keep the city centre safe.” 

Published: 2 September 2024