Residents encouraged to call new hotline to report illegally parked cars

Medway Council is making it easier for residents to report parking concerns with a new hotline and email service.

From today, Monday, 6 November, residents will be able to contact the council’s parking enforcement team directly from 7am until 1am each day to report illegally parked vehicles.

With more vehicles on Medway’s roads the council has listened to motorists and businesses and is encouraging people to call the team if they see illegally parked cars. Civil enforcement officers will then respond as quickly as they can and issue penalty charge notices where appropriate. Officers carry out regular patrols across Medway and the hotline will help them target areas which face the biggest problem with illegally parked vehicles.

Our parking services team deal with a range of issues including: vehicles which are parked next to a dropped kerb, stopped in a restricted areas outside schools, parked in a disabled bay without a badge and vehicles stopped on a pedestrian crossing. If you are walking down the road and see a car parked illegally, for example on double yellow lines, you can call the hotline and officers will be sent to the street as soon as possible.

Cllr Phil Filmer, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder in charge of Front Line Services, said: “It is fantastic that motorists will be able to contact the parking enforcement team directly on the phone or by email. The new hotline will make parking enforcement even more responsive and will help to keep Medway moving. Illegally parked vehicles can put people’s lives at risk, especially if parked outside schools. This hotline will make Medway a safer place for people living, working, learning and visiting across Chatham, Gillingham, Strood, Rainham and Rochester. I would encourage all motorists to park responsibly and to call the hotline to report illegally parked vehicles.”

Medway Council is committed to supporting motorists and is offering free parking in all council-owned car parks across Medway from Monday, 27 to Thursday, 30 November – the perfect chance to make a start on your Christmas shopping in Medway’s town centres.

Residents can report parking concerns by calling 07718 130962 between 7am and 1am, seven days a week. A voicemail service will be available outside of these hours. Motorists can also email [email protected] to report any issues. For more information visit www.medway.gov.uk/parkinghotline