NORTH Somerset Council is trialling a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) on three roads in Portishead due to people parking inconsiderately and blocking the path of waste collection crews.

From Monday, March 4, people who repeatedly park their vehicles in a way that blocks recycling and waste vehicles could be fined.

This will apply to three roads in the North Somerset town, which include Teal Way, Shannon Walk and Curlew Place.

Last year, parked cars disrupted collection crews in these areas 47 times. This inconveniences residents and crews alike, as well as costs the taxpayer.

The PSPO will be enforced on collection days from 9am to 11am.

Motorists will receive a warning from the council after the first offence. If they are reported three times, they will face a fine.

Councillor Annemieke Waite, North Somerset Council’s executive member for Climate, Waste and Sustainability, said: “Obstructive parking can have a significant impact, preventing waste collection crews from carrying out their collections as planned. This causes inconvenience to residents, as crews can’t collect their recycling and waste on the correct day. 

“Crews then need to return – sometimes multiple times – to complete their work. These extra journeys also negatively impact the environment, requiring more fuel and contributing to emissions.

“Poor parking can also put lives at risk when emergency vehicles are unable to pass.

"We encourage everybody to park responsibly, and thank those residents who already do. We hope that trialling a Public Space Protection Order in these three streets will make the kerbside recycling and waste collection service more reliable for everyone, as our crews will be able to collect recycling and waste on time.”

Councillor Caritas Charles, North Somerset Council ward member for Portishead East, added: “I am happy that we are working with local residents to find a solution to this problem.

"We need to ensure that our collection crews can safely and easily gain access to these streets to collect recycling and waste, something that many residents have written to me with concerns about.

"We hope this trial will be a success and balance the need for access with people’s parking requirements.”