A total of 7,000 penalty charge notices were pinned on the windscreens of vehicles in Penrith for parking offences during Westmorland and Furness Council’s first full year of operation.
In total, 29,856 penalty charge notices (PCNs) were issued throughout the Westmorland and Furness area between April 1, 2023, and the end of March this year.
None were issued in Alston, but in the area’s two other major towns, Appleby saw 503 being issued and Kirkby Stephen 19, while other parts of Eden saw 503 tickets handed out.
According to a freedom of information request submitted by the Herald, a total of six designated parking enforcement officers operate in the former Eden district area and Westmorland and Furness Council spent £137,697 on employing them.
However, the council refused to say how much revenue was generated from the issuing of parking contravention notices in the former Eden district area from April, 2023 to April, 2024. “This information is not available as income received is not recorded by area,” the statement to the Herald said.
Asked about when the latest update to disc zone signage, including permit holder exemptions, took place in Penrith, the council said: “The local area team undertake maintenance work each financial year to areas which are supported by Traffic Regulation Orders, this included replacing damaged/missing signage and refreshing road markings.
“Work in regards to some signage has just recently taken place during the 2023-24 financial year.
“A full review of the signage has not taken place for a number of years due to the Traffic Regulation Order not having been reviewed, this however is anticipated to take place during the 2024-25 financial year.”
And on the question of the cost of installing signs, the council said its spend during 2023-24 on sign improvements in restricted areas was £2,320.40.
