Drivers will be able to park on double yellow lines for 15 minutes under proposals to boost trade in high street shops.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles wants to introduce a "grace period" that would allow motorists to pop into local shops without being hit by hefty penalties, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Higher fines could be introduced outside London for motorists who park dangerously in order to secure support for the move.

A source close to Mr Pickles told The Daily Telegraph: "The high street is in danger of shrinking or dying off, and over-aggressive parking enforcement is part of the reason why.

"If people are worried about paying a fortune in parking fines, it will make them more likely to do their shop online or go to out of town shopping centres.

"For too long parking has been a revenue raiser. It's time to end that.

"There is room for a deal (with the Liberal Democrats). Dangerous parking is a menace to people, whereas if you're in the parking bay or just on the side of the road you're not presenting any risk."

It is understood the Lib Dems believe the Tory Cabinet minister's plans could prove "unworkable" and are keen to raise the current £70 cap on fines for all illegal parking outside London, according to the newspaper.

Lib Dem Transport Minister Norman Baker told the newspaper: "We are keen to ensure that the high street works for businesses by stopping people parking illegally for hours on end.

"I have been in discussions with other colleagues from government about how we can best take decisions on this forward.

"This is about tackling motorists who are parking illegally, not about raising charges for those who park legally."

But AA president Edmund King said: "Rather than just allow drivers to park on double yellow lines, a thorough review of the lines would be more effective.

"Many double lines are there for historical reasons and could be lifted. There is plenty of opportunity to ease back on the signs and lines in many places, giving drivers short-term waiting bays instead, so they can stop briefly to buy a paper or loaf of bread."

He added: "Local authorities should be encouraged to do what the Government does with regulations - 'one in one out' - so that yellow lines do not run out of control.

"Lifting restrictions on yellow lines should not be an excuse for hiking parking penalties outside London."

The Government has previously issued guidance to councils encouraging them to attract shoppers by setting competitive parking charges and urging them to improve the quality of parking in town centres.

Tory local government minister Brandon Lewis said: "This Government has scrapped Whitehall rules that previously told councils to hike up parking charges, adopt draconian enforcement and impose arbitrary limits on off-street parking spaces.

"Councils now need to play their part in reining back in the overzealous culture of municipal parking enforcement".

Perhaps this was a good day to bury bad news for the Government as last Friday a High Court Judgement went against Barnet Council's use of parking fees from a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) in London, being used to subsidise other council expenditure in a ruling which could have a national impact.

Quote from 'Broken Barnet'

"Another victory for the residents of Broken Barnet: judgement handed down this morning in the CPZ parking Judicial Review, finding in favour of the claimant, and thereby ruling the outrageous policy of enormous hikes in charges introduced by former Tory Cabinet member Brian Coleman to be unlawful.

You can find the full judgement here,
and the background to the action on the Barnet CPZ site.

This verdict is a magnificent achievement for resident and campaigner David Attfield and all his supporters, and residents will be extremely grateful to him for all extensive efforts made to bring this case to the High Court - and win. So many residents have been struggling to cope with the permit rise from £40 to £100, and most of all the 400% rise in charges in vouchers, leaving many elderly, vulnerable and disadvantaged people isolated, and unable to afford the cost of parking in these areas.

Yet again it has been demonstrated that the Tory administration of Barnet Council has allowed political ideology, and a deep rooted contempt for the opinion and well being of residents and taxpayers to overule the limitations of their statutory powers, and seek to impose unjust and unlawful policies on the community whose best interests they are supposed to protect.

Reading through the judgement, it is clear that the exploitation of parking revenue was deliberately chosen and ruthlessly pursued by Councillor Coleman, in contradiction of his own earlier opposition to increased charges. He will no doubt excuse this on the grounds of political pragmatism. Others may take a different view."

End of quote.

I watched a panorama not so long ago showing how a london borough had a camera on a box junction and fined everyone that stopped in the hashed box by there fault or not.
The point being that the huge revenues that the council was bringing in to subsidise its budget. Local drivers even called it the "Cash Box".

Wirral council killed its own streets and business with all its parking fines and the war with traffic wardens taking to the street. I hope they are forced to prove the time waiting as i have also seen programs on the TV where wardens in other area's whom are supposed to wait 5 mins before issuing a ticket actually just issue the ticket regardless.

The government took all there time to get on top of clamping i just wonder if this goes trough if anyone would trust a traffic warden and a 15 min timer ?

If they stopped in the box, it was their own fault; no argument. You shouldn't enter the box unless your exit is clear. Simples.

If you have a constant stream of traffic coming in from the left who are not in the box how do you get through the box to the other side Chris. I did watch that programme.

You may enter the box and wait when turning right. Really annoying when you are stuck behind a car turning right that will not enter box.

Perfectly correct, rover, and it is annoying; the point being that if his exit is clear, he is permitted to wait in the box and therefore permit drivers behind him to proceed straight ahead.
Moonstar, I didn't see the programme but I'm having difficulty visualising the situation you outline.

Wirral Council annoyed me when they painted double yellow lines everywhere thereby forcin you into their pay and display car parks. Could this be reported to the Monopolies commission?
I now do most shopping online as its quicker and cheaper to get it posted to you than pay extortionate parking fees.