COUNCILS are seeking powers to impose fixed penalty fines on those who park unauthorised skips on roads reports mrw.co.uk

These powers are for historic reasons available to London boroughs but not elsewhere in England.

In a letter to the Local Government Association (LGA), a group of councils mainly in Essex said they wanted to be able to fine a range of offences. These included depositing a builder’s skip on the highway without permission, failure to secure its lighting or other marking and failure to secure removal of a builder’s skip. It proposed a penalty of £150 for each.

The letter said: “The 12 local authorities who have co-signed this letter are experiencing dangerous highway offences such as unlicensed skips and wilful obstruction of the highways without the ability to tackle the problem. 

“There are incidences of unlicensed skips that obscure the view of passing motorists and cyclists. The ability to deal with such offences by way of issuing fixed penalty notices would not only ensure a more efficient and effective response but would increase public confidence by better protecting our residents and businesses from environmental crime and antisocial behaviour.”

A report by the LGA supported the idea and noted: “At present, the only route for councils outside of London to deal with such offences is through issuing warnings and then prosecution. 

“This is considered to be an unfair and inconsistent approach for non-London authorities and can be very time-consuming and costly.”

The letter was sent by Rob Gledhill, leader of Thurrock Council, on behalf of Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Chelmsford, Colchester, Harlow, Luton, Maldon, Southend-on-Sea and Tendring councils and Essex County Council.