Worthing Borough Council

Contact The Worthing Parking Shop via your method of choice.

The Traffic Management Act 2004 part 6 permits Highways Authorities to apply to the Secretary of State to become a Civil Enforcement Area (CEA). Once the CEA application is approved, the power to enforce parking, loading and waiting restrictions, passes from the police to the Highway Authority. Parking offences are no longer classified as a criminal offence as non-endorsable parking offences will be transferred to civil law.

Because of other pressures Sussex Police were unable to provide the number of traffic wardens it would like to enforce on-street parking regulations. Changes in the law now allow local authorities to take over this role by employing civil enforcement officers, and CPE is due to be introduced over the next few years across the remaining districts of West Sussex.

The change means clearer, safer streets and reduce congestion. It also improves the environment and helps the economy by making sure that on-street parking designed for short stay shopping trips is not abused. Civil enforcement officers are also able to target abuse of bays designed for people with disabilities, indiscriminate parking near schools, and other areas of public concern.  CPE also ensures that roads are clear of obstruction for emergency vehicles.

Worthing Borough Council has awarded the contract to enforce parking regulations to NSL Services Group..

No. Civil enforcement officers receive a basic wage, and there are no quotas or targets for issuing Penalty Charges Notices (PCNs). They are trained to be fair but firm with a focus on service quality.

You can Park On The Road or Park In The Car Parks.

There are many Council run Car Parks in Worthing that continue to operate as previously. On-street parking continues to be available in existing bays, subject to the restrictions in place. However, single and double yellow lines, and permitted spaces throughout the Borough are patrolled more effectively than before, so where abuse of restrictions occurs the increased enforcement regime sees this stopped.

West Sussex County Council and Worthing Borough Council do not believe there is a recognised need at present to invoke the statutory powers they have to routinely remove vehicles contravening the parking restrictions.

Attendants will issue a PCN – Penalty Charge Notice – at differential charging levels, depending on the seriousness ofthe contravention. The penalty charges are set at £70  for more serious offences ( such as parking on a loading restriction) and £50 for a less serious offence (such as overstaying on a pay & display ticket) - these carrying a 50% legal reduction to £35 and £25 respectively if paid within the first 14 days. If a PCN remains unpaid it will increase by 50% (£105 and £75 respectively) on the issue of a Charge Certificate and will then be registered as a debt at the Traffic Enforcement Centre of Northamptonshire County Court.  Ultimately unpaid debts will be recovered by bailiffs, which will incurr additional charges.

Civil enforcement officers will not be allowed to accept payment, and will be under strict instructions that once a PCN has been issued, it cannot be withdrawn.  Any discretion necessary is applied in the appeals process.

Payment will be possible by cash, cheque, postal order, credit or debit card and these can be made at the town’s Parking Shop, by telephone to the service provider, via the internet or by post.

Please see the Paying a Parking Ticket (PCN) page for details of where to make payment.

These can be found on the Parking On the Road page.

• Observation and Grace Period Guide
• Parking Operation Plan - Hours of operation and details of patrols
  

Non-payment of Parking Tickets (PCNs) will be treated as a civil debt and could ultimately be recovered through a bailiff. You have the right of making a Representation to an independent adjudicator if you wish to challenge the PCN and have had your appeal rejected by the council at the first formal stage.

Payment must be made within 56 days of the date on which the Parking Ticket (PCN) was issued. If, however, payment is made within 14 days then a 50% discount will be applicable.

Follow our Parking Ticket Appeals guidance.

No. The only reason for the change is to make sure that essential parking regulations are enforced.

If you have any issues regarding your PCN you need to appeal against this in writing.

For the past few years, limited resources have meant that the Police can only give a low priority to enforcing yellow lines. Because the local authorities receive numerous complaints about illegal or inconsiderate parking, we consider it a far higher priority and can take action using the increased resources available through CPE.

We can only enforce the existing yellow lines as they appear on the ground. Obstruction of the highway will still come under the Police.

Not unless the waiting restriction allows you to load or unload.

The driver committing the infringement should make payment. However, should the PCN remain unpaid, then the Council will pursue payment from the registered keeper of the vehicle.

If the complaint is regarding enforcement, controlled parking zone management or a Civil Enforcement Officer, please write to the Parking Shop.  If you remain dissatisfied with your response, or wish to complain about the appeal process itself, please write to the Parking Services Team.