Under a local Byelaw, verge parking in Stevenage is an offence and offenders are liable to prosecution through the Magistrates court. This Byelaw was introduced at a time when vehicles parked on verges was a rarity, but the problem is so widespread that enforcement under the Byelaw is not practicable as due to financial restrictions, we are unable to constantly patrol the verges.

Permanent Traffic Orders are now in place in the Broadwater, St. Nicholas, Martins Wood, Pin Green, Bedwell, Chells, Chells Manor, Shephall and Bandley Hill areas.

Civil Enforcement Officers are enforcing verge and footway parking and issuing penalty charge notices for parking contraventions. Penalty charges are £70 which will be reduced to £35 if they are paid within 14 days. The Traffic Order has been so successful that it will soon be rolled out to other areas of the town.

We will undertake physical verge protection in certain areas. Priority is given to dealing with verge parking adjacent to junctions where sight lines are being obstructed, where grassed areas are being used as a shortcut between two roads and/or where the damage caused could pose safety hazards for users of the highway (for example, deep rutting which could pose a hazard to pedestrians).

If the request for verge protection does not satisfy the above criteria, please speak to your local councillor about funding the verge protection work.