Police have reissued a warning that they will begin towing illegally parked cars after issues around Swindon.
On Wednesday, October 23, Wiltshire Police announced it was entering a new phase of its crackdown on poor parking in the Broadgreen area.
It has since reissued this warning after snapping a picture of a blue car blocking an alleyway in the area.
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Since January, the force has issued around 119 warning notices to drivers obstructing alleyways as part of the Clear Hold Build operation.
This multi-agency project has seen police work with Swindon Borough Council’s parking enforcement officers to combat parking problems in the town.
As part of the scheme, council officers have given out more than 120 Penalty Charge Notices for a range of offences.
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But police say they are now ramping up this operation and will be towing illegally parked cars without notice from November onwards.
PCSO Chivers of Swindon Central South NPT said: “Since the start of our operations at the beginning of this year, we’ve handed out more than 100 warning notices.
“It appears from the data that this has had the desired effect with low levels of re-offending, with few vehicles needing to be towed.
“From next month, however, we will be moving into this next phase of operations, where vehicles caught in the alleyways will be towed without warning.
“Any person in charge of a motor vehicle who causes or permits it to obstruct a road, including an alleyway, commits the offence.
“Should your vehicle be found parked illegally, you will either receive a fine or your vehicle may be towed.”
PCSO Chivers emphasised that parked cars blocking roads or alleyways can obstruct emergency services and could potentially put lives at risk.
He added: “We know from information we receive from the Broadgreen community that illegal parking in alleyways causes significant disruption for local residents.
“A single vehicle in an alleyway can cause huge issues for the local community, as well as the emergency services who are no longer able to easily navigate the area, which could potentially put lives at risk.
“To be clear, alleyways around Broadgreen and many other residential areas of Swindon form part of the highway and therefore constitute a road. This means they must be left clear of any disruption.”
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