Council trials new parking technology to clamp down on irresponsible parking

Hillingdon Council has begun a two-week trial of a new vehicle fitted with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to help clamp down on unauthorised parking.
During the trial anyone parked in the council’s parking management schemes without the correct permits or exemptions will face enhanced enforcement.
Currently, Civil Enforcement Officers (CEO) carry out inspections across the borough on foot and individually check parked vehicles using handheld devices. However, the new vehicle’s technology allows CEOs to carry out more checks across a wider area in less time.
The ANPR cameras, linked to the council’s parking permit database, will highlight potential parking contraventions to the CEOs, who will follow up with a manual verification and check for valid parking approvals such as visitor permits and blue badges. Not all alerts will result in a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services said:
“We’re committed to being a digital-enabled, modern council, while putting our residents first. The trial is a fantastic way to maximise officer time in cracking down on those who fail to follow our parking restrictions and ensure that parking remains accessible and fair to residents with valid permits within their neighbourhoods.”
The results of the trial will be analysed before the council makes a final decision on further implementation of the vehicle across the borough.
For more information about parking in Hillingdon visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/parking.