by John Prince
New cameras have popped up at a Hornsea car park to deter drivers from staying for too long during the day.
The automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras have been installed at the Cinema Street car park just off Newbegin, and will be switched on in early November.
At the moment, anyone can park there for free for up to three hours between 8am and 6pm during the week, before they have to move on. Evenings after 6pm and weekends are also free.
If drivers stay longer than the allowed time through the day, they could face a fine of up to £70.
That arrangement has been in place for some time. But because of difficulties in enforcing the regulations, the cameras will now replace regular patrols that were carried out by traffic wardens.
It means that a vehicle’s number plate will be detected and caught on camera the moment it enters the car park. It is then recorded again the minute it leaves. The time is logged, which shows exactly how long the vehicle has been there.
Drivers who overstay will face a fine. They will also be hit with a charge for parking in disabled bays without a blue badge, outside marked bays, and obstructing other cars.
Penalties will also be given if vehicles return to the car park within an hour of leaving. That means people will have to find another parking spot in the town if they plan to stay in Hornsea for longer.
Essex-based company Horizon Parking, which manages more than 2,500 car parks around the UK, has fitted and will operate the cameras.
In an online statement from Hornsea Town Council, it says: “The cameras will be fully operational from Wednesday, November 5.
“The current parking provision of three hours free parking will remain unchanged, ensuring users continue to benefit from existing arrangements.
“ANPR cameras are replacing physical patrols, and will operate from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. There will be no restrictions on weekday evenings, or on Saturdays and Sundays.”
The cameras will not be used when the car park is in use for events held in Hall Garth Park, such as Hornsea Carnival or the annual Bike Show.
Hornsea Town Council clerk Joanna Richardson said: “Horizon Parking has installed the cameras, and will administer and collect any parking penalties. Hornsea Town Council has never, and will not have, any remit in this regard.
“For absolute clarity, the installation of ANPR will not change current, long-standing parking restrictions in the Cinema Street car park. It will still be three hours’ free parking. A parking penalty will be issued if this is not adhered to.
“The council has no remit in relation to traffic enforcement. The cameras have been installed to replace patrols.”
It is not just visitors to Hornsea that have to be aware of the new cameras. There are a number of residential properties nearby, and workers who also use the car park.
Geoff Goodlass, 66, who owns Cabelo Hairdressing across the road from Cinema Street, said: “It’s nothing new, and I still have to find somewhere else to park through the day and clutter up the residential streets.
“It’s a pain but you can nearly always find somewhere to park unless there’s an event on, or in the evening when everyone has come home from work and they’ve parked up.
“It should actually help my business because there’s more available parking for customers. There will be a bigger turnover and more people coming in and out.
“The company who run it will make some money from it I’m sure. If people are abusing it and park there all day then they’ll have to pay the fines.”
One resident living in Eastleigh Cottages said: “It will affect me because there will be more cars. I have family that needs to park and they can’t park all day. They have to run out and find somewhere to move their cars to.”
Aldbrough resident Clarry Arnott, 80, who comes into Hornsea for his shopping, said: “I don’t like it. I don’t like the thought of my details being on camera. I think parking should be free in Hornsea anyway and it could drive the customers away.”
But Jon Vokes, 48, from Bilton, said: “I have no problem with it at all. It stops people staying all day so I think it’s fair. If the fine is up there and it’s signposted then that’s fair enough. If you breach it you breach it. It’s there to see.”