Newport councillor urges Gwent Police to step up illegal parking enforcement

Labour councillor Ray Truman urged Gwent Police to keep their ‘promise’ and enforce the law until the authority takes over civil parking enforcement powers on July 1.

Concerns were raised at a council meeting when Cllr Truman spoke of two ‘serious’ car accidents that recently happened on or near Chepstow Road in the Alway area of the city.

The overturned car on Chepstow Road near Beechwood Park Picture: Calum Troy

“I’ve got first-hand information that the first accident happened because of all the parking on the pavement and junctions,” said Cllr Truman on Tuesday.

“They had a hell of a job getting a breakdown vehicle in there. Parking on pavements is getting worse there.

“We’ve had two nasty accidents. Somebody is going to get killed, there’s no doubt about it. Something has got to be done."

READ MORE: Newport resident refuses to pay for parking permit because of a lack of enforcement

Cllr Truman told Superintendent Ian Roberts at the meeting that people in his ward had ‘had enough’ with illegal parking and asked for greater enforcement.

Supt Roberts stressed the pressures the force was under, revealing that Gwent Police dealt with more than 61,000 incidents in Newport last year – equivalent to 170 a day.

“We know enforcement activity is only part of the solution,” he said.

Superintendent Ian Roberts

“We will do as much enforcement activity as we can, but I cannot commit to putting police officers there all day, every day. It’s just not possible.”

Labour councillor Jane Mudd also told Supt Roberts about an increase of complaints relating to illegal parking around schools in Malpas.

Cllr Mudd asked for police to step up surveillance at schools during pick-up times to try and deter repeat offenders.

“Whilst we recognise the pressures that we’re all under, this relates to the safety of children,” Cllr Mudd added.

Supt Roberts said officers would review the situation when possible and reach out to affected schools, but said there were parking issues outside every school in Newport.

Labour councillor Roger Jeavons said the issue of illegal parking was spreading outward from the city centre and into wards across the city.

Cars illeaglly parked on zebra crossing zigzags in Mill Street, Newport.

Conservative councillor Matthew Evans added that he had received complaints from constituents, namely disabled residents and those with children, regarding parked cars blocking access in the city centre.