District: Witham

We are currently operating our services on a ‘business as usual’ basis, taking into account the pre-planned festive disruptions. We acknowledge that parts of Essex are currently in Tier 4 whereas others are, as things stand, in Tier 2.

Civil Enforcement Officer patrols are continuing in all NEPP districts, both on and off-street and resident permit schemes are operating as usual. Resident permits and visitor permits must therefore be used at all times, including where signage does not state ‘except bank holidays’.

Our business unit, including our customer services, are operating on a planned reduced service as is the case each year. Telephone lines will therefore only be open on Wednesday 30th and Thursday 31st December for customer queries before returning to normal operations on the 4th January 2021.

MiPermit will operate as normal throughout the festive period however their telephone lines will not be in operation until the 4th January. All other MiPermit services – including their app, website and SMS services – will operate in the usual way.

However in light of the tiered restrictions the Government is constantly reviewing, we will review all NEPP operations on the 4th January 2021 and provide further updates should additional operational measures need to be taken. Until this time, no further changes to our services are planned.

PARKING charges have been suspended for critical health and social care workers.

Following an agreement with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) has suspended charges for key NHS workers.

The plan means NHS staff will not have to pay to park in council car parks or at the roadside whilst carrying out their frontline duties.

NEPP also plans to waive any fines received by health and social care workers while carrying out their duties over recent days.

Workers are encouraged and will be supported to appeal the fines, with supporting evidence from their employer.

Free parking will be in place until further notice.

Robert Mitchell, chair of NEPP, said: “Critical workers are doing vital and highly valued work, day and night, to support the most vulnerable in our society, save lives and keep our country running through this unprecedented crisis.

“The NEPP welcomes its role in helping key workers get to work – enabling them to park in on-street bays or council-owned car parks without having to worry about cost or time restrictions.

Click here to find out more about how NEPP responded to the Covid-19 pandemic