Derry City and Strabane District Council is to explore introducing a clamp-and-removal service for drivers who repeatedly ignore parking fines. The move was approved by the council’s Business and Culture Committee after members heard that dozens of vehicles in the district have accumulated thousands of pounds in unpaid Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs).

Officers reported that 26 UK-registered vehicles have each been issued three or more unpaid PCNs, representing a total of £14,850 in lost income. A further 13 Republic of Ireland-registered vehicles hold 62 unpaid PCNs worth £8,370, with one vehicle alone having 12 outstanding notices totalling £1,620.

Sinn Féin councillor Pat Murphy noted that the vast majority of motorists pay their fines but pressed officials on how the scheme would operate. Officers said enforcement would be data-led, using information available to traffic attendants employed under the council’s Marston Holdings contract, but did not provide specifics.

SDLP councillor Sean Mooney pointed to the vehicle with 12 outstanding tickets as evidence that a more visible deterrent is needed, describing clamping as a stronger signal of the council’s intentions. He cautioned that any service must be assessed for cost-effectiveness against the debt likely to be recovered.

The proposal targets vehicles with more than three unpaid PCNs where the most recent notice has remained unpaid for a defined period. Council officer Kevin O’Connor said the current figures represent only a snapshot of a longer-standing issue, with further details to be brought forward through a working group.

Separately, the committee approved £130,000 to replace the council’s aging pay-and-display machines in its off-street car parks. The current units, some 20 years old, are well past their typical seven-to-15-year lifespan. Spare parts are increasingly scarce, and the supplier will withdraw technical support from December 2026. Most machines still accept only coins, though a contactless payment trial at Bishop Street and William Street has seen card use rise significantly.

The new machines will be funded through existing budgets under the Marston Holdings contract and will also support future automatic number plate recognition technology, pending legislative change. The upgrade is separate from a Department for Infrastructure programme replacing on-street machines in other towns.

The council has also invested £480,000 in resurfacing and re-lining car parks, raising the share of accessible bays from 2.6 percent to 5 percent, still short of the 6 percent guideline.