Some Lessons from Cardiff on Parking

When Cllr Julie Morris's daughter moved into a house in Cardiff, she discovered at first-hand how residents' parking can work.

Cllr Morris reports "My daughter had failed to organise a residents' parking permit, or a visitor's permit for the removals lorry, for the day we were due to move in. A telephone call was made to the helpful council contact centre, who told us permits were available over the counter - but there was simply no time for us to collect one. 'No problem' the helpful lady said, 'I can give you the telephone number for the traffic wardens' office and I'm sure it will all be fine'. We had to leave a message at the wardens' office and I didn't expect a call back, but within half an hour a kindly chap telephoned us in Epsom. We were told to stick a piece on paper up on the windscreen which said 'parking permission given by warden 679'. The warden told us this would buy us 10 days' grace for as many vehicles as we wanted.

Cllr Morris continues "The service and attitude was very impressive. I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised. The Leader of the Council is a Liberal Democrat!"