Parking and bus lane enforcement and on-street parking charges to resume from June 29th

By Q Radio News

Parking enforcement teams will be back on Northern Ireland's streets from Monday 22 June.

Due to the lockdown restrictions put in place to combat Covid-19, on-street parking charges and parking and bus lane enforcement were suspended on 24 March.

Warning notices will begin to be issued from Monday 22 June to give people time to prepare and make motorists aware.

In the first instance, for seven days, enforcement officials will be issuing warnings and from 29 June Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) on street parking charges and charging at Park and Ride Sites will commence.

Minister Mallon said: “With more restrictions being relaxed, more people returning to work and retailers now reopening, more and more people are on our roads and our streets.

“It is important for economic recovery that we all support local businesses at this time and as Minister for Infrastructure I must ensure that car parking spaces are available for anyone travelling to our town and city centres and that cars are parked safely.

"I know that these decisions may not be popular for some, but I have carefully considered the needs of all those using our roads before making my decision.

" I recognise the need to give people time to prepare and to make them aware of this change which is why I have built in a seven day warning period ahead of the reintroduction of parking charges.

“As shops reopen, we are seeing an increase in irresponsible parking and I would urge car users to park responsibly at all times and play their part as we all move towards returning to the new normal.

“From 22 June, parking enforcement teams will be back on the streets and will issue warnings for one week only before the reintroduction of penalties on 29 June.

"On street parking charges in Department for Infrastructure’s on-street parking zones are being reintroduced to ensure turnover of parking spaces, except for those locations where bays have been removed to facilitate the green recovery plan.

"All on-street pay and display machine key pads will be cleaned and disinfected prior to the restart. Drivers are asked to carry hand sanitiser and practise good hand hygiene as advised by the Department of Health. Drivers are encouraged to make use of cashless parking. Details can be found on all pay and display machines’.

“From 29 June, parking and bus lane enforcement will also recommence. Enforcement assists with safe parking management in our town and city centres and I would ask the public to show respect to these workers at all times.

"From 22 June, Advisory Notices for all parking and moving traffic offences will be issued for one week after which Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for all parking and bus lane offences will issue.”

Reacting to the announcement, Simon Hamilton, Chief Executive of Belfast Chamber of Commerce, said these changes were necessary to make the city centre safer.

Parking and bus lane enforcement as well as on street parking charges to return from 29 June. With the city reopening again, @BelfastChamber has been pressing @deptinfra to make this move to ensure safety in the city centre https://t.co/S3mxVmccU9

— Simon Hamilton (@SimonHamilton) June 17, 2020

Also commenting on the news, Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said:

“While we accept that parking and enforcement needed to return at some point, what doesn’t need to return is the overzealous approach of the parking enforcement officers in handing out excessive numbers of penalty charge notices”

 “Our town and city centres are at a very delicate early stage of recovery and the last thing they need is traffic wardens going over the top with tickets for shoppers who use their cars. The only winners from this are the large out-of-town supermarkets, which have free car parking and no traffic attendants”

“Retail NI wants to see a new start with sensible and fair enforcement of car parking and bus lanes and an end to the excessive strategy we saw before the pandemic