Tougher car park and bus lane enforcement planned in Salford

Tougher enforcement at Salford’s car parks and bus lanes will help the council boost its income under new plans. The town hall needs to cut costs by £5.6m to balance the books as it prepares to set its budget for the next financial year.

It has proposed saving £170,000 through extra car parking income across the city. A spokesperson said the council is planning “more effective management and enforcement” of its car parks, on-street waiting restrictions and bus lanes to provide the cash injection.

Car parking charges are not expected to increase under the proposals. Last year, Salford council collected around £950,000 from bus lane fines, and £1.5m from parking penalties.

Bus lane Penalty Charge Notices cost drivers £60 discounted to £30 if paid within 14 days of issue, while parking fines can be between £50 and £70 depending on the incident, reduced by 50 percent if paid on or before 14 days.

The council is also planning to bump up council tax by five percent as part of its budget, which works out at an extra £65 a year for band A properties, or £97 for band D households.

Salford Mayor Paul Dennett warned this week that the council is under major pressure to continue funding adult social care and children’s services, which swallows 64 percent of its £392m yearly budget.

“Increased and growing demands for social care services will continue to be a challenge for us," he said. The council’s budget plans include investing an extra £2m in school transport for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

It also needs to increase spending to help the 787 households currently living in temporary accommodation, and 5,000 people on the council’s housing waiting list.

The government is giving Salford