Cameras to check on illegal parking

2:37pm Monday 3rd March 2008

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THE council is increasing the use of cameras to catch people breaking the rules of the road from the end of the month.

Thousands of people have already fallen foul of CCTV cameras used by Ealing Council to police bus lanes, box junctions and zig zag lines, but now the enforcement is being extended to cover those parking on double yellow lines.

Enraged motorists slammed the council when a new camera was installed outside Ealing Broadway station, issuing fines to people dropping off passengers on the zig zag lines of the crossing.

In a bid to avoid motorists being caught unawares, the council will run send out dummy warning notices to people caught breaking the rules in the first fortnight of March.

Councillor Vlod Barchuk, who is in charge of transport in the borough, said: "Parking enforcement is not universally popular but the regulations are there to keep roads safe and ensure the free flow of traffic and should be enforced.

"Pedestrian safety is the top priority which is why we have already stepped up CCTV enforcement around schools and next will be enforcing regulations at zebra crossings.

"However, some regulations are badly understood by motorists so our approach will be to warn before we enforce. We will give motorists advance notice so they have ample opportunity to avoid getting fines."

Fines issued by the council in the first month of the CCTV enforcement outside Ealing Broadway station earned more than £225,000, with fines of £100 for each offence recorded, and the extension comes into force from March 31.