EFFORTS to clampdown on illegal parking outside schools and on pedestrian crossings and bus stops in Newport will receive a boost later this month, as a new mobile parking enforcement car takes to the city's streets.

The car - fitted with cameras - forms part of the Newport City Council's ongoing effort to tackle illegal parking.

Since civil parking enforcement was introduced in July last year, almost 22,000 Penalty Charge Notices have been issued to motorists parking illegally across the city.

The council say public feedback has been very positive, but reports have shown that areas around schools continued to be problem areas.

To help target this issue, the council has introduced the new mobile enforcement vehicle to help officers enforce zigzags outside schools, as well as at pedestrian crossings, bus stops, taxi ranks, clearways and areas where there are 'no loading' restrictions.

The car will be fitted with cameras on the roof and will clearly display logos and ‘parking enforcement vehicle’ in English and Welsh.

The new vehicle is also a hybrid, which will reduce its environmental impact.

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Motorists who are caught parking illegally will be issued a Penalty Charge Notice in the post with fines at the same level - £70 (reduced by 50 per cent if paid within seven days).

Councillor Roger Jeavons, deputy leader and cabinet member for city services, said: “This bespoke mobile parking enforcement vehicle is an investment which will improve public safety and extend the council’s capability to effectively tackle key enforcement priorities in all areas, but especially hotspots that have been previously reported and identified.

“Our aim is to reduce the numbers of unlawfully parked vehicles outside schools, in bus stops and on pedestrian crossings, therefore providing safer routes for walking and cycling across Newport.”

The car will begin patrolling on Monday August 24 with a focus on safety for those returning to work and school in September.

A team of civil enforcement officers, employed by the council, patrol the city.

The officers are able to enforce all parking related restrictions on the public highway if a vehicle is parked unlawfully, including:

• Parking on yellow lines

• Overstaying time limits on parking bays

• Parking across dropped kerbs

• Parking more than 50cm from the edge of the kerb

For more information on civil parking enforcement, visit newport.gov.uk/cpe