Babergh's car parking enforcement scheme has been hailed a success in Hadleigh after more than 600 penalty tickets were issued in the town, Nub News can reveal.

Since Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) was introduced in Babergh, where the council took over responsibility from the police for ticketing transgressors last April, 341 penalty charge notices (PCNs) were handed out for those who were parked illegally on roads in the town, while a further 284 were given to motorists who were without a valid ticket in council car parks in the town.

The on street tickets were for those that stayed more than one hour in a bay, or were parked on yellow lines and both town mayor Frank Minns, who also lives in the High Street, has noticed an improvement

Cllr Minns said: "I used to park my car outside my house and it was very difficult to find a space. I don't keep it here anymore, but if I did I would not have problem finding space now, so it has had that effect down the residential end of the High Street.

"I suspect that would the same

"There is a lot of parking on single yellow lines, which people have have not really twigged yet.

"On the whole I feel it (CPE) has benefitted Hadleigh, although I'm aware there is still some deep resentment about it and there have been some pretty awful scenes when people think they are being singled out by those issuing tickets, when of course they are not.

"The whole point of these bays is for a rapid turnover and you were getting people parking there all day and that defeats the purpose as it takes away spaces from people who would spend in the shops."

Babergh district councillor Kathryn Grandon also believes CPE has been a success in the town and is confident the amount of tickets issued will drop as more people become

"Hadleigh has long been concerned about improper parking in the car parks and highway," said Cllr Grandon. "Many drivers were taking advantage of the fact that the police were too busy to deal with enforcement and were parking selfishly (overstaying or not displaying a ticket), so most residents were looking forward to Civil Parking Enforcement coming in to force.

"Since CPE has come into operation, I have noticed a marked improvement in the availability of space - however, it has to be acknowledged that the timing has coincided with Covid-19 and was introduced during the first lockdown.

"While the number of PCNs issued is a high number, I think over time, drivers will be educated in to learning that we are very fortunate in Hadleigh to have three hours free parking in our Babergh car parks (two hours in the High Street) so drivers should take the trouble to display the tickets correctly and act according to the clearly displayed regulations.

"I judge the scheme to be a success and I hope those who have found themselves in the position of receiving a ticket will either appeal if they believe they are incorrectly fined or pay the fine and next time they visit Hadleigh enjoy our three hours free parking within the rules."

Hadleigh Nub News used a Freedom of Information request to obtain the figures from Ipswich Borough Council, which runs the scheme on behalf of the eastern part of Babergh, including Hadleigh. West Suffolk council operates in the west of the district and includes Lavenham and Sudbury in its enforcement area.

The figures, shown for this part of the district, are for tickets issued between April 6 and November 30 2020.