Parking on grass verges is a persistent problem that can obstruct the highway and prevent pedestrians and wheelchair users from accessing roads and footways.
Verge parking can also cause a hazard to other motorists - especially if the vehicle is parked on a bend, narrow road or junction.
We do not promote or support parking on grass verges.
Waiting restrictions will be indicated by yellow lines at the edge of the carriageway. They are enforced by the police.
Verge parking byelaw
A verge-parking byelaw covering only Mowbray Road and Fendon Road came into effect in 2008 after being formalised following a trial period, during which the verges were reinstated.
It has reduced the number of vehicles parked on the verges and, together with the reinstatement of the verges, has had a positive effect on the visual impact of the area.
Signs are displayed on each lamppost to advertise the byelaw.
Driving over verges to access property, which has been a cause of additional problems, is also covered by the byelaw.
Enforcement
City rangers and enforcement officers regularly patrol the area, including in the evenings and on weekends. There are currently three enforcement officers with delegated powers to enforce the byelaw as part of their wider remit to enforce against environmental crime.
If a vehicle is parked on a verge by somebody other than the registered keeper, our officers have legal powers to obtain the name and address of the driver from the keeper.
Enforcement also relies on reliable witness evidence of the driver's identity.
Breaches of the byelaw are dealt with by means of prosecution through the magistrates' court, which can incur a £500 penalty upon conviction.
Areas outside the byelaw
With the byelaw in place at Mowbray Road and Fendon Road, it has taught us that different areas of the city may benefit from a different approach, for example the provision of parking bays or double yellow lines may be more appropriate in some areas other than a blanket ban.
The best forum to decide what is most appropriate for a particular street, is at Area Committes. If you would like a road in your area to be considered for inclusion in the byelaw, you will need to speak in the first instance to your ward Councillor. New areas for consultation will be considered at area committee meetings.
Contact
For further information please email streetenforcement@cambridge.gov.uk or telephone 01223 458282. You can also telephone the police on 0345 456 4564.
Information and advice on how to apply for a dropped kerb outside your property is provided by the county council.
