Stamford loading bays targeted in bid to tackle parking ‘loophole’
Plans are being drawn up to change loading bays in Stamford after concerns over Blue Badge holders parking in them
Restrictions on town loading bays could be introduced in a bid to tackle a ‘loophole’ enabling disabled people to park in them.
South Kesteven District Council’s Richard Cleaver (Ind – Stamford St Johns) said the authority was planning to request to Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) that a ‘loading by commercial vehicles only’ restriction should be introduced in loading bays in Stamford to tackle an issue of disabled people parking in these bays.
Coun Cleaver told a scrutiny meeting on Tuesday (September 22) that the bays in Stamford at the side of Marks and Spencer and in Red Lion Square are currently restricted to ‘loading-only between 8am and 6pm’ because the High Street is a pedestrian zone during the day.
He added: “Blue badge holders should not be there. However, the enforcement team tell me there is a legal loophole and there’s an unfortunate precedent case which makes it very difficult to enforce that blue badge holders cannot park in loading bays – which is very frustrating to those delivering to the High Street to our shops.
“We have come up with a solution to this – which we are waiting for Lincolnshire County Council to bring in – and it is to change the regulations on Red Lion Square and at the bottom of St Paul’s Street by the side of Marks and Spencer.
“We’re changing them from being ‘loading only’ to being ‘loading by commercial vehicles only’.”
Coun Cleaver, who is the cabinet member for property and public engagement, explained that under the plans this would mean that anyone who is not driving a commercial vehicle could receive a parking fine.
But he added that there would be a small area which would remain as a ‘loading only’ bay in St Paul’s Street which would allow people to collect their ‘click and collect’ orders from Marks and Spencer, but the rest of the area would be restricted to ‘commercial vehicles only’.
Coun Cleaver said the proposal would be put to LCC’s planning and regulation committee for consideration at a later date.