CAR parking charges are to be reinforced across Southampton as of next week following their suspension during the coronavirus pandemic.

Southampton City Council suspended all fees for parking and display restrictions due to coronavirus in order to support all key workers during these challenging times.

Now, the Council have announced that on Monday, May 11, the enforcement of Short Stay Pay and Display restrictions will be brought back.

The relevant Pay and Display machines will be turned back on at these locations and notices will be visible to remind users of the parking restrictions.

The council has advised that any on street or off street pay and display location with a maximum stay of two hours will now be enforced.

Parking at these sites will require a valid ticket and failure to display one may result in a Penalty Charge Notice.

Cabinet Member for Transport & Place, Councillor Jacqui Rayment said: “We appreciate that residents are using short stay parking facilities as part of allowed visits to local supermarkets and pharmacies, but we need to make sure that there are parking spaces available for everyone at all times.

"We are not resuming enforcing enforcement of long stay facilities at this time, so these are available to residents as well.”

The council suspended the enforcement of Permit Parking and Pay and Display restrictions, but continued to enforce yellow lines, zig zags, disabled bays and other key restrictions for the purposes of keeping the highway clear, maintaining road safety at junctions and protecting the needs of vulnerable users.

Enforcement of Long Stay Pay and Display Parking locations will remain suspended, in order to help NHS and Social Care workers in the city.

It is also to ensure people carrying out the vital work of supporting vulnerable members of the community, as key workers in other areas or as volunteers.

Enforcement of Resident Parking Zones 1 – 18, 20, 22 & 23 (the other zones are non-residential) will also remain suspended.

This will allow residents to park without receiving a Penalty Charge Notice as it is widely recognised that the majority of residents are observing the government directive and are working from home.

Permit Parking restrictions in Hollybrook Cemetery will also not be enforced at this time to facilitate parking for the additional NHS resources required to tackle the pandemic.

Vehicles should not be left on the “No Waiting” restrictions within the cemetery as this space will be required for cemetery operations such as funerals.

The council confirmed that within off street car parks, disabled bays, electric vehicle bays, motorcycles bays and the requirement to park within the bay markings are still subject to enforcement regardless of whether the pay and display restrictions are being enforced.