While the work to create new loading bays in Swanage town centre was completed in June 2020, the rules to enable fines for illegal parking have just come into effect.
A traffic regulation order by Dorset Council has been fast tracked after it was discovered that the legal measures to allow parking enforcement officers to issue penalty charges to drivers parking in the new loading bays hadn’t been processed.
The new loading bay on the corner of Station Road and Institute Road
New loading bays in Station Road and Institute Road
This applies to the new loading bay in Station Road outside WH Smith and the loading bay on the corner of Station Road and Institute Road near Boots. These were created to replace the loading bay that was removed to allow for the pavement to be widened in Institute Road.
The traffic regulation order, that came into effect on Friday 25th June 2021, means that any driver not using the loading bays for their intended purpose, risks receiving a fine that is now legally enforceable.
An oversight by Dorset Council
At the Swanage Town Council roads and transport committee meeting on Wednesday 23rd June 2021, it was revealed that due to an oversight by Dorset Council in the middle of the Covid pandemic last year, it didn’t complete all the legal paperwork following the town centre improvement works.
Swanage Town councillors said they were delighted that the matter had now been resolved as the loading bays were there for the benefit of all the local business owners to help them run their businesses and get the deliveries they need
The new loading bay in Station Road
Wrong for people to park in loading bays
Councillor Caroline Finch and chair of the Swanage Chamber of Commerce, speaking in the meeting said it was wrong for people to park in loading bays, adding:
“Parking in loading bays impacts on other businesses, who are just trying to get their deliveries – I’m absolutely disgusted with those that do that.”
Chairing the meeting, councillor Mike Whitwam said that he wholeheartedly agreed.
