The TOP 10 places where you most likely to get a parking ticket in Darlington have been revealed. 

Darlington Borough Council revealed motorists have been fined for 29 different contraventions, from failing to show a ticket to parking in the wrong place.

The latest Penalty Charge Notice data available between June 2020 and June 2021 found 4,273 fines were issued to motorists. 

Top 10 areas where fines were handed out 

Other streets where traffic wardens pounced were: Greenbank Road, Grange Road, Northumberland Street, East Row and Skinnergate.

 

Top 10: Why people were fined 

It is no secret that travel in the town centre decreased last year during the coronavirus pandemic, and although traffic wardens may have intially taken time off work, they certainly made up for any lost time as the year went on. 

Some motorists may need to double check where they're leaving their cars as the data revealed 10 fines were handed out for parking on a pedestrian crossing.

And there was even one incident when a large HGV was parked on a footpath. 

Parking outside schools remains a problem in the town as 47 fines were issued for the offence over the last year. 

Earlier this year, a woman warned others of an "honest mistake" which left her with a £100 parking charge while taking a Covid test.

Christine Tuncelli visited the 'Feethams Leisure' car park under the DL1 complex. Ms Tuncelli, who had booked a symptom-free Covid test at the Dolphin Centre, parked in the car park after believing it was included in the two-hour free parking scheme. 

But the car park, which shares a similar name to the council-controlled Feethams Multi-Storey Car Park, is managed by a private firm with 24 hour charges in operation.

Data from Darlington council shows 47 fines were handed out at the facility in the past year. 

READ MORE: Darlington woman's warning after £100 charge at Feethams car park

Earlier this year The Northern Echo published a letter from a reader who bemoaned the lack of information at Commercial Street car park - the most prolific Darlington site for fines - and it's clear the facility is a difficult place for motorists. 

Darlington resident Brian Fishpool wrote: "The entrance to the Commercial Street car park in Darlington is at east end and the exit is at the west.

"This morning I have had two incidences of drivers not using this car park properly – the first could have ended up with me getting knocked over through no fault of my own and in the second, a car nearly hit the car I was a passenger in.

"On both occasions the gentlemen drivers were using the exit entrance to come into the car park.

Have you received a fine that you dispute? Let us know in comments below. 

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