Councillors consider warden to combat town’s illegal parking

A TRAFFIC warden could return to the streets of St Neots after a call from councillors to solve parking problems in the town. The issue was discussed at a town council meeting on Wednesday when councillors said they would consider employing their own ward

A TRAFFIC warden could return to the streets of St Neots after a call from councillors to solve parking problems in the town.

The issue was discussed at a town council meeting on Wednesday when councillors said they would consider employing their own warden to tackle illegal parking.

Mayor of St Neots Councillor Paul Ursell said: "We do have a problem with people parking illegally in the town. People tend to park wherever they like regardless of whether they are allowed to or not."

St Neots lost its traffic warden two years ago when parking offences were decriminalised, which made parking offences a local authority issue rather than a police issue.

Cllr Bob Barnes (Eynesbury ward) added: "Since we lost the traffic warden two years ago we have seen a lot of cheekiness in the town. We have problems with cars parking on pavements in the town.

"There are loads of parking spaces in St Neots, it makes no sense that people should be parking on the pavements."

Cllr Barnes has also put forward the idea of introducing town wardens who would be responsible for parking offences as well issuing on the spot fines for dog fouling, dropping litter and spitting out gum on the floor.

The council has agreed to look further into the issue, which would mean applying for new bylaws in the town.