Revealed: Worst Doncaster parking tickets blackspots

Armthorpe Road accounts for nearly eight per cent of the borough’s parking tickets, figures obtained through a freedom of information request have revealed.

Motorists in Doncaster received a total of 10,498 fixed penalty notices from parking wardens between April 2014 and March 2015.

Doncaster's worst parking ticket blackspots are revealed

And 782 of those were on Armthorpe Road in Intake and Wheatley.

The number of tickets is believed to be because the road is so close to the Doncaster Royal Infirmary, where bosses admit it can be difficult to park.

Thorne Road, which is also close the the hospital, also saw high numbers of tickets, with 240, mostly in the Wheatley section of the road.

Coun Jane Kidd, who represents Intake ward on Doncaster Council, said she was surprised by the high number of tickets on Armthorpe Road, but believed it could only be down to the proximity of the hospital.

Richard Parker, director of nursing, midwifery and wuality at the Trust, admitted it could be difficult to find parking spaces near the hospital.

He said: “Car parking is an important part of the overall patient experience.

“Like many other hospitals it can be difficult to find suitable places to park near Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

“That’s why we are constantly reminding patients, staff and visitors to use the Park and Ride service which is a great alternative to parking on the surrounding streets.

“It is free and it takes just seven minutes to travel between the hospital and Doncaster Racecourse.”

The next major hot spot is around the town centre, at Priory Place, where 417 parking tickets where issued.

Officials at Doncaster Council say the large number of parking tickets dished out in Priory Place and Scot Lane are due to people parking in disabled spaces and loading bays in some of Doncaster’s most central streets.

Peter Dale, director of regeneration and environment at the authority, said: “Priory Place and Scot Lane are in the middle of Doncaster town centre and are therefore popular places to park.

“Sadly the amount of penalty notices issued reflects the number of people who illegally occupy disabled spaces or park in loading bays. Armthorpe Road has a traffic regulation order which allows the drivers a three hour stay.

“This is so that each space can be used by at least three cars per day, giving hundreds of people a fair chance to park for free when attending clinics or visiting relatives in hospital. Again, the high number of fines is due to drivers not obeying the rules.

“Doncaster Council provides a large number of parking spaces both in the town centre and across the borough which are competitively priced when compared to the private sector.

“It is motorists’ responsibility to check that they are parked legally and observe any restrictions. It is our duty to enforce the rules and take action against those who park inconsiderately or cause an obstruction.”