MK Council is continuing to crack down on illegal parking in Bletchley – despite traffic wardens facing so much abuse that they’re forced to work in groups for their own safety.

• REALITY: They ignored the problem for years. Enforcement only increased after residents protested and embarrassed the council. This is not a crackdown — it’s catch-up

Sixteen parking tickets a day are being issued in Bletchley and Fenny Stratford so far in December, as the Labour administration on Milton Keynes City Council vows to tackle the the ongoing problem of anti-social parking in the town.

The enforcement action focuses on known hotspots, including Queensway, Duncombe Street, Tavistock Street and Osbourne Street. 

• REALITY: It shows the scale of the problem. There are hundreds of daily offences — 16 is a drop in the ocean. If they patrolled consistently, it would be far higher

Over 2500 PCNs have been issued in Bletchley this year, the highest number outside CMK city centre

• REALITY: Sounds impressive until you remember - • Bletchley has the worst illegal parking in MK, • Enforcement collapsed for years - 2,500 PCNs prove long-term neglect, not success

• REALITY: Abuse is unacceptable, but this is being used as emotional framing to deflect from the council’s failures. Abuse did NOT stop MKCC from enforcing in other areas  ie CMK.

Cllr Pete Marland, Labour Leader of Milton Keynes City Council said: “ “It is completely unacceptable that the council is having to take extraordinary measures to protect staff due to the sheer amount of verbal and physical abuse experienced in this area. Officers are being deployed in teams of two and three for their own safety because they are doing work the local community is asking them to do."

• REALITY: While safeguarding council staff is rightly treated as a priority, it should be acknowledged that MKCC has an equivalent legal obligation to protect residents from foreseeable harm. Persistent pavement obstruction and dangerous parking engage both Human Rights and Equality duties, which cannot be deferred or reframed as behavioural issues

He added: “I think there is clearly the need for some people to take personal responsibility for their actions and for others to support the work the council is doing.”

The parking crackdown comes as work is currently underway to improve the high street, as part of the Queensway Improvement Scheme. Why the wait after all these years The investment will see permanent preventative parking measures, continuous pavements and raised table road crossing, better lighting and wayfinding, more trees, and bike hub lockups.

Pete said: “Labour is delivering a fundamental transformation of Bletchley and Fenny Stratford, investing over £30million of funding to improve the area and working with Callum Anderson MP to attract more inward investment into the town, including recently securing the commitment to a new town centre facing entrance to the railway station.

• REALITY: • It’s Town Deal money, NOT MKCC funding -   Illegal parking was NEVER included in the plan -  Day-to-day safety remains unchanged - Public realm improvements do not replace enforcement

“We know local people raise anti-social parking a lot when we talk to them. Milton Keynes City Council dedicates a lot of resource to dealing with illegal parking in Bletchley, and the very high level of enforcement notices being served throughout the year shows it is an issue we take very seriously.

“However, we know fines alone won’t improve Bletchley or make the town centre more successful. That is why as part of the regeneration plans Labour is investing in a better public realm for shoppers, improving parking on Queensway and making the area nicer and a safer for people to visit.”

Cllr Ayesha Khanom, Labour ward councillor for Bletchley Park said: “We are committed to making Bletchley's streets safe and accessible for all pedestrians and road users, and this requires a firm stance against those who choose to park illegally.

• Reality: there is no substantial public record of Cllr Khanom leading or challenging on parking enforcement in Bletchley, despite years of resident complaints

Cllr Nigel Long, Labour ward councillor for Bletchley Park added: “It is impossible to fine everyone or have enforcement officers present at every single problem, for instance drivers have a five-minute grace period before receiving a ticket and this often results in drivers moving their vehicles upon seeing the officers, but with the regeneration of the town centre, Bletchley is moving the right direction.”

• REALITY: You don’t have to. But you do need to fine enough to create a deterrent — something MKCC failed to do for years. The absence or lack of officers is not a natural limitation — it is a political and managerial choice. As for regeneration

  Illegal parking and street safety are operational enforcement issues.  They are not resolved by lighting, trees ,bike hubs, paving schemes or new signage.

MKCC let the parking crisis explode,

now they spin basic enforcement as heroic action.