INDEPENDENT NEWS

Winter Sports Parking In Christchurch

Published: Fri 11 Apr 2008 10:49 AM
Winter Sports Parking
From: Rachel Graham, Communication Team, Christchurch City Council
Date: 10th April 2008
CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL MEDIA RELEASE
The Christchurch City Council's parking unit is hoping that a little education and advice will help reduce the amount of problems caused by parking offences this winter sports season.
This year throughout April the parking team will be giving people who are illegally parked on grass berms around Hagley Park's sports fields a warning and advice about where they should be parked, instead of the usual fines. This will not however extend to anyone who is causing an obstruction or a blatant safety hazard.
It is hoped that by May, when the parking wardens will again be imposing fines for cars illegally parked around the sports fields, people will be making the right decisions about where to park.
The Parking Enforcement Team Leader, Shane Bruyns, says parking on the grass berms creates a traffic hazard, puts pedestrians and motorists at risk, and damages the park's grass and plants.
Mr Bruyns says the parking officers regularly patrol the sports area as part of the wider patrol of the city. The parking officers also patrol the area in response to complaints. He says complaints about parking around Hagley Park's sports fields are a common occurrence over winter as people become frustrated at the congestion and mayhem caused by illegal parking.
He says the Christchurch City Council policy in relation to public parking on the grass berms at Hagley Park is consistent with the policy that is used for any parking on grass berms throughout Christchurch. Parking on a grass berm or verge is an offence under the Christchurch City Traffic and Parking Bylaw 1991, and carries an infringement fee of $40.
Mr Bruyns says the Council is aware that public parking around Hagley Park is in demand especially over weekends when the Park is used to its maximum for sporting events. "That is why we have adopted a customer focussed approach this year to parking enforcement around this area, i.e. by warning motorists and issuing infringement notices for obstructions and safety offences"
Mr Bruyns says car pooling by sports teams, parking at the cricket oval on Riccarton Avenue or in any of the nearby parking buildings would greatly reduce the parking issues.
ends

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