Drivers in Morley fined for parking in pedestrianised Queen Street

Officers said that people had been driving along Queen Street "for some time", despite it a no-car zone.

They said they had received complaints from concerned residents and in particular older residents who have limited mobility.

In response to the complaints, officers began to give verbal warnings but said this "was not effective".

Instead, the officers used enforcement methods such as fixed-penalty-notices (FPN).

Over the weekend, five drivers who broke the rules were fined.

Officers are now reminding people that Queen Street is a pedestrian zone and that it is the responsibility of drivers to read the signs and not break the law.

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A spokesman for the West Yorkshire Police - Leeds South said: "The Police and Local Councillors have recently received a number of complaints from businesses and pedestrians in Morley Town Centre regarding vehicles driving on Queen Street at times when this is prohibited.

"This has been going on for some time and some drivers in recent weeks and months have been given verbal warnings at the road side.

"Sadly this has not been as effective as we would have liked and so it has become necessary to move to an enforcement approach.

"This weekend, where we see most footfall and therefore an even higher risk to pedestrians, Local officers from Morley NPT have been patrolling Queen Street in Morley and subsequently have issued 5 FPN's to drivers who were either parked or driving along Queen Street breaching these regulations."

They added: "We would like to remind people that Queen Street in Morley is a Pedestrian Zone where vehicle restrictions apply.

"Contravention code 54 is summarised as failing to comply with a sign indicating a restriction on vehicles entering and waiting in a Pedestrian Zone.

"It is the responsibility of drivers to read the road signs and adhere to them making sure you are not breaking the law.

"Anyone who is found breaching this by the Police will be dealt with appropriately. This will include people found by Police to be loading or unloading outside of the permitted times.

"These actions are in response to requests from the public and pedestrians whereby some are elderly and have limited mobility in relation to the problems which have been raised on Queen Street.

"We hope this reassures concerned residents and pedestrians of Morley that where possible and where legal, we will take the appropriate action against people that are breaching road traffic regulations at the risk to other road users."

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Queen Street in Morley will be one of the areas to benefit from a £750,000 government cash injection to breathe new life into its town centre.

Leeds City Council has received the cash as one of 100 places across the country – and 15 in Yorkshire – that have secured between £500,000 and £1million to help them recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

It is hoped the money, which is a share of £80m which the government offered nationwide, will kick-start longer term growth plans by going towards developing new green spaces, pedestrianising streets and creating community hubs.

The funding will be focused across Morley town centre, with improvements planned at Morley Bottoms, on Queen Street and in Scatcherd and Lewisham parks.

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