Latest news with #illegalparking
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Bus powers could help TikTok-famous villages deal with problem parking
Town hall powers to set up bus routes could deal with problem parking in TikTok-famous 'honeypot villages', an MP has said. Jon Pearce praised the Government for proposing a suite of new powers which councils can use to run their own bus routes and prevent companies from pulling 'socially necessary' services. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill, which secured a second reading on Monday, would 'streamline' the franchising process when authorities bid to set up London-style networks, and would better secure 'lifeline routes' elsewhere. 'In part thanks to a TikTok craze to photograph sunset and sunrise over Mam Tor, communities where I live in High Peak have been plagued by illegal parking,' Labour's Mr Pearce told the Commons. The 517 metre-high hill in Derbyshire has become popular on social media, with several videos filmed at the landmark racking up more than 100,000 likes on TikTok. Mr Pearce continued: 'I'm co-ordinating a response to these issues with local stakeholders like the Peak park, police and councils, and a key tranche of what we need to do is deliver better bus services that are integrated with local train services. 'This Bill will transfer powers away from Westminster and empower local communities to take decisions necessary for our commuters to get to work, our students to get to college, our vulnerable to access the healthcare they need, and our honeypot villages to manage tourism sustainably.' Gritting crews were unable to reach a Peak District road near the hill earlier this year after more than 200 cars were double parked on it, according to Derbyshire County Council, and Mr Pearce previously wrote to authorities, when he warned that emergency services had been obstructed. The Bill would give councils the power to set up franchised bus networks to regulate routes, timetables, fares and vehicle standards, without the need for ministers' permission. Ms Alexander said the Government is 'fixing the broken' franchising process and told MPs: 'Proposed schemes need to jump through a myriad of hoops and they still require my consent to proceed, which is odd to say the least. 'The idea that I understand more what passengers in Leicestershire or Cornwall need than their local leaders is for the birds. In December, we opened up franchising to every local authority and now through this Bill we will further streamline the process making it simpler for franchise schemes to be granted and assessed.' Ms Alexander said the franchising model 'won't work everywhere', and added: 'That's why this Bill also strengthens enhanced partnerships and removes the ideological ban on establishing new local authority bus companies. 'Furthermore, by giving local authorities the power to design and pay bus operator grants in their areas, this Bill gives greater protections for socially necessary local services – securing those lifeline routes that keep communities connected.' Pressed about funding to local authorities for the £3 bus fare cap, Ms Alexander said: 'There is a spending review under way but I can confirm that I fully appreciate the importance of an affordable and accessible bus route.' Ms Alexander also said the Government will 'press pause' on so-called floating bus stops 'perceived to be poorly designed', amid concerns over accessibility issues and potential hazards for visually impaired people and others. Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Paul Kohler said the Bill 'rightly lifts the outdated, ideologically driven ban on municipally owned bus companies, empowering local authorities who wish to use it, rather than infantilising them' and added that 'it is not and must not become a one-size-fits-all approach'. He added: 'Empowering local authorities in law is one thing. Enabling them in practice is quite another. 'Whilst this Bill hands councils a set of keys to a new bus network, it doesn't ensure there's fuel in the tank.' Conservative shadow transport secretary Gareth Bacon earlier said improvements for passengers 'simply won't happen' without more Treasury money. He said: 'The Bill does not prioritise passengers and there is nothing in it that guarantees an improvement in service standards. 'The truth is that this Bill appears to be driven by political nostalgia. It is in many ways a thinly veiled attempt to recreate the municipal model of the pre-1986 era without fully considering the financial and operational realities of today.' The Bill will undergo further scrutiny in the Commons at a later date.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Taxi driver landed with huge bill after 'going too far' when trying to stop neighbours parking outside his house
A taxi driver has infuriated his neighbours after illegally painting red lines on the road outside his house to stop people parking there. Altaf 'Tiger' Patel was spotted drawing a single 27ft line by hand with a paintbrush to prevent other cars blocking the entrance to his driveway in Audley, Blackburn. Mr Patel who is also a councillor for Little Harwood and Daisyfield, said he needed his driveway clear 'at all times' due to his job and complained that people parking in front of his home had become 'an ongoing issue'. The 55-year-old claimed the lines were only 'temporary' and was waiting for workers to paint the official lines on. But he still received significant backlash from residents on St Thomas Street, who accused him of thinking he was 'above the law'. Amin Kapadi, who is a councillor for the neighbouring Audrey and Queens Park ward, also claimed Mr Patel had undermined the public's trust, saying the lines were 'not only inappropriate but also potentially hazardous'. He was forced to remove the markings after just fours days after receiving an email from Blackburn Council. He was later filmed scraping the red lines off the road surface outside his home. He has since had to pay council workers almost £3,000 to add a legal drop kerb and paint an official H-bar line - a driveway protection marking. One of the red lines can be seen outside Mr Patel's house. He claimed the lines were only 'temporary' and was waiting for workers to paint the official lines on Mr Patel said: 'It was a genuine mistake - nobody has been placing themselves above the law. There have been issues with people parking in front of the property. 'Due to being a taxi driver, I need access to the property at all times, and this has been an ongoing issue 'People have been parking in front of the house. My daughter has recently passed her test, and she bought a car and also needs access to the driveway.' 'I had originally painted the red lines to mark out where the official lines should go, in case I was not home when work was due to come. It was only temporary.' The red lines were originally painted in December 2024 but the work rectify including the drop kerb has only been done recently. Cllr Patel said he had paid £2,956 for the new markings and the drop kerb - he applied to the council for the alterations. The new line is used to protect driveway access by reminding drivers that it is an access point which should not be parked across. The new official works prompted a fellow councillor and a nearby resident to call for the council to investigate the actions. A council spokesperson said Cllr Patel was contacted regarding the red lines, but confirmed the further work was legal and the councillor had paid for these services, just like any other citizen. A woman who lives in the area and asked to remain anonymous said nobody should be painting red lines on public roads outside their home. She said: 'He should not have done that in the first place.' A comment provided by Cllr Salim Sidat, on behalf of Audrey and Queens Park Cllr Amin Kapadia, said: 'I was made aware of an incident involving a resident of my ward who took it upon themselves to paint red lines on the public highway outside their property, without any authorisation from the local council. 'It is particularly concerning this individual is also a serving councillor for another ward. 'Actions such as these undermine the public's trust in elected representatives and contravene the standards expected under the Councillors' Code of Conduct. '[These lines] are not only inappropriate but also potentially hazardous. 'I have full confidence the council will take the appropriate steps to address this matter, and I support a thorough investigation to ensure transparency and accountability. Carmel Foster-Devine, Head of Highways and Transport for Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said: 'Painting red lines on the road outside his house is a highways offence, and Councillor Patel received a formal letter from our highways department instructing him to remove them. 'Councillor Patel applied and paid for both the dropped kerb and the H-bar line painting outside his property, as any resident would be required to. The council have told that they recently looked into the updated line painting, following a complaint from a neighbour. They found that the H-bar line painting has been done correctly.
Top Gear
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Report: Peak District to send illegally parked cars to Alcatraz
Report: Peak District to send illegally parked cars to Alcatraz Authority to tackle irresponsible parking with extreme new measure Skip 1 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. Here's roving correspondent, Cory Spondent, with his mostly incorrect exclusives from the world of motoring Cars parked illegally and irresponsibly in the UK's picturesque Peak District will be detained and then shipped to Alcatraz, according to sources. Advertisement - Page continues below The revolutionary new project to curb the county's congestion plague comes as authorities grapple with expanding numbers of motorists unable to deploy the most basic tenets of common sense when parking. The proposed reopening of the notorious American prison piqued the interest of local leaders because its secure island location off the coast of San Francisco was the perfect place 'to send all those bloody SUVs'. 'We've tried the gentle, softly-softly approach: some signs, a few friendly social media posts, a couple of parking wardens directing the flow of traffic, that sort of thing,' a source close to the project said. 'Literally none of it worked. Humankind's propensity to block major road arteries by parking carelessly for the sake of a terrible TikTok video knows no bounds, and we are doomed as a species. Advertisement - Page continues below 'No longer will our beautiful Peak District be plagued by those who will never in our lifetime learn the ability to park sensibly, coherently and with respect for the surrounding environment. 'A two-tonne crossover will need more than a bent spoon and a papier-mâché head to escape from that abandoned hellhole,' they added. Alternative plans involved building a really massive wall to block the stunning landscape from view. 'Let's be honest, this is not the most unhinged thing you've heard, is it,' the source said. Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
