Birmingham City Council has broken its silence after numerous drivers were fined ahead of Aston Villa's victory parade. Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were issued for vehicles on several streets in the Jewellery Quarter in the early hours of Thursday, May 21.
Residents reported being asleep when fines were given out at short notice, with some vehicles towed away. The swift enforcement occurred just hours after Villa secured their first trophy in three decades.
Now, the council has stated it will waive the fines by cross-referencing permit data with PCNs issued in the area to identify and withdraw all eligible notices. Temporary parking restrictions were put in place, but the council will review how it communicates short-notice changes in the future.
A council spokeswoman said: "We understand the frustration expressed by residents in the Jewellery Quarter this morning and appreciate the concerns raised. Given the short notice associated with arrangements for Aston Villa’s victory parade, temporary parking restrictions were put in place across Tuesday and Wednesday, with additional cones deployed overnight to prepare routes safely for today’s event.
"In recognition of the limited notice, any PCNs issued to resident permit holders parked within their permitted bays will be waived and cancelled. PCNs issued this morning to vehicles parked within suspended free parking bays will also be withdrawn. Where vehicles needed to be moved, they have been relocated to nearby unrestricted locations. We appreciate that parking in the Jewellery Quarter is already challenging, and thank residents for their patience as the city prepares for Aston Villa’s victory parade. We will continue to review how we communicate short-notice changes of this nature in future."
