On-street parking controls
Parking controls questions and answers
Find out who to contact about obstructive or dangerous parking, parking restrictions, parking shortages, and accessible parking.
A vehicle is blocking your driveway
If the vehicle is on a public road
You can report a vehicle that is blocking access to a residential driveway.
Report a vehicle to Parking Services
We can only respond if the person who occupies the affected property reports the vehicle.
We may not be able to respond straight away. If the vehicle is creating an immediate danger, contact the police on 101.
Check the latest parking restriction and enforcement information
Try to resolve ongoing parking problems informally with the people involved.
Your Community Policing Team may help identify a vehicle owner or explain the problems being caused.
If the problem continues, contact your ward councillor.
If the vehicle is on a private road
We are responsible only for roads that we maintain as public highways.
You will need to resolve parking problems on a private road with the landowner.
A vehicle is parked dangerously or blocking traffic
Where parking restrictions apply
Report vehicles parked on existing restrictions to Parking Services.
Where there are no parking restrictions
We can take parking enforcement action only where restrictions apply. These restrictions include double yellow lines.
The police may deal with a vehicle that is causing an immediate danger or blocking traffic. Call 101 if the situation is urgent.
New or changed parking controls need a Traffic Regulation Order. This legal document brings parking signs and road markings into force.
Introducing an order involves a legal process. We must consult people who are likely to be affected.
Find out about Traffic Regulation Orders
A Traffic Regulation Order typically costs about £5,000. It also takes significant time and resources to process.
Requests must:
- have support from the wider community
- have support from local ward councillors
- support the council's wider objectives
We are unlikely to prioritise a request supported by only one person or a small group.
Before requesting parking restrictions
Discuss the problem and your proposed solution with neighbours and other people who may be affected.
This will help you understand the level of local support.
If most people support the proposal, contact your ward councillor. They can discuss the request with you in more detail.
You can then ask us to consider a Traffic Regulation Order.
If most people do not support the proposal, we are unlikely to prioritise it.
You can discuss the issue with them again if you still think restrictions are needed.
There is not enough parking
Where parking restrictions apply
Report vehicles parked on existing restrictions to Parking Services.
Where there are no parking restrictions
Discuss the problem with your neighbours and the wider community.
Requests for new or changed parking controls must:
- have support from the wider community
- have support from local ward councillors
- support the council's wider objectives
If you are considering a residents' parking scheme, you should also discuss the possible costs for residents.
If there is community support, contact your ward councillor to discuss the request.
Requesting new or changed restrictions
New, changed, or removed parking controls need a Traffic Regulation Order.
This legal document brings parking signs and road markings into force.
Introducing an order involves a legal process. We must consult people who are likely to be affected.
Find out about Traffic Regulation Orders
A Traffic Regulation Order typically costs about £5,000. It also takes significant time and resources to process.
If most neighbours support the proposal, contact your ward councillor. You can then ask us to consider a Traffic Regulation Order.
If most neighbours do not support the proposal, we are unlikely to prioritise it.
Accessible parking and Blue Badges
Requesting an accessible parking bay on a public road
We do not provide parking bays for individual disabled people on public roads.
Creating a bay requires a Traffic Regulation Order. This typically costs about £5,000 and takes significant time and resources.
We cannot commit these resources to requests that benefit only one person.
Requests for parking controls must have support from the wider community.
Requesting help on a private road
We are responsible only for roads that we maintain as public highways.
You will need to discuss parking problems on a private road with the landowner.
If you live in a council-rented home, contact your housing officer. They may be able to help.
Applying for a Blue Badge
A Blue Badge can help you park closer to your destination if you meet the eligibility rules.
Apply or reapply for a Blue Badge
How parking restrictions are enforced
Our civil enforcement officers enforce parking restrictions. The police do not enforce these restrictions.
We focus our resources on areas with the most parking restrictions. These include the town centre and nearby areas.
We patrol other areas less often. We cannot guarantee regular enforcement, particularly during evenings and weekends.
For more information, read our parking enforcement guidance
Contact the traffic management team
If this page does not cover your enquiry, email trafficmanager@swindon.gov.uk