783 drivers get tickets in Driffield in one year
Almost 10,000 parking fines were issued by the council’s wardens in the space of a year, and one part of Driffield town centre proved to be a hot-spot for tickets.
Middle Street South had the second highest number of penalty charge notices issued anywhere in the East Riding, according to the council’s annual parking report.
Between April 2020 and March 2021, 254 tickets were given out to motorists who had flouted the rules.
The only location where the wardens were kept busier was Saturday Market Car Park in Beverley, which saw 337 PCNs issued.
In total, 783 drivers returned to their vehicles in Driffield to be greeted with the sight of an unwanted yellow envelope – putting the town third in the county’s league table.
In Beverley, 2,639 tickets were dished out, with Bridlington only slightly behind on 2,621. Goole (777) and Pocklington (524) were fourth and fifth in the list, with far fewer tickets given out in popular tourist resorts such as Hornsea (253), Flamborough (176) and Withernsea (59).
Elsewhere in the Wolds Weekly area, one ticket was given out in Barmston, 28 in Brandesburton, eight in Hutton Cranswick, 99 in Market Weighton and 119 at Wilsthorpe.
The report says: “There is a balance between the level of enforcement in terms of operational costs and the need to deter illegal parking in order to meet traffic management objectives.
“If enforcement is increased, the operational costs of the service will also increase but parking contraventions should fall. Similarly, if enforcement is reduced, the operational costs will fall but illegal parking may increase.
“Unrestricted parking will lead to congestion, obstructions and spaces being fully occupied with limited access to parking during desirable periods.
“Parking management can be used to moderate demand and encourage turnover. Achieving the right balance is difficult, particularly with the current economic climate and financial pressures faced by local authorities and local communities.”