While I cannot condone selfish parking by the motorists who feel that they have the right to park anywhere they choose, I have concerns over the new legislation recently introduced.

When Brighton and Hove started to rearrange double and single yellow lines some years ago I had many complaints from residents who were getting parking tickets while parked outside their own homes.

This was because the council painted yellow lines across their dropped kerb leading to their driveway.

It now appears the council has made it an offence to park on these dropped kerb access points unless the resident gives their consent. Since when can we have a regulation that allows the resident to decide whether or not it is an offence?

Are the traffic enforcement officers going to contact the resident who has a vehicle parked outside their house to ask if it is with their consent? I do not think so.

From a legal point of view, I am sure you can park anywhere unless indicated otherwise. You have either single or double yellow lines, or single white lines.

You cannot have a restriction that may be varied according to a particular situation decided by the resident of a house with a dropped kerb.

The white lines that are often used in this situation are a different matter.

According to East and West Sussex County Council, the white lines are only a guideline to indicate that it is an access point.

If it is blocked, the police can remove an offending vehicle where an exit is required but not to gain access to the premises.

The council has not indicated the type off road markings that it intends to enforce.

If the council wants to tow away offending vehicles, start by removing those from residents’ parking bays that have been left by people that do not have a right to park there and keep the bays open for the paid-for permit holders.

Steve Percy,
Chairman, People’s Parking Protest,
Albion Street, Southwick