Councillors are being asked to approve a new policy which could see repeat parking offenders have their vehicle seized.  

The ‘Vehicle Removal Parking Contraventions and Persistent Evaders’ policy will be discussed at a Cabinet meeting on Monday 16 December.

The policy aims to target persistent evader vehicles, where a vehicle has three or more recorded contraventions and the penalty charge notice (PCN) is not paid, represented or appealed in the statutory time limits. Or, if the appeal is rejected and the penalty charges remain unpaid.

The policy will include where vehicles are causing a hazard or obstruction on the highway, where they are obstructing planned maintenance works and abandoned vehicles. It will also cover non-motorised vehicles such as trailers, caravans and damaged vehicles.

Councillor Paul Kelly, lead member for highways, housing and transport, said: "Inconsiderate, dangerous and illegal parking really does impact on the community and can prevent important works from getting done. We are hopeful, if approved, this new policy will encourage residents, and those who parks on Slough’s streets, to take responsibility and be considerate to others.

“The council issues approximately 70,000 parking and bus lane PCNs per year. This policy isn’t about generating income, but about compliance and recovery of debt and to help curb parking problems in several areas. Repeat offenders will have their vehicle or trailer seized and will have to pay to get it released. If they don’t, the vehicle could be disposed of.”

The removal of illegally parked vehicles from the highway will contribute to improvements in traffic flow, address access problems for emergency services and waste collection, help our residents with sustainable travel and address anti-social problems linked to inconsiderate parking. 

A similar scheme has proved successful in Windsor and Maidenhead and Portsmouth.

If approved, procurement activity will begin to appoint a removal and disposal company, with a further report coming to Cabinet in April 2025.

Cabinet papers are on the council’s website.