A British city has been criticised for having no traffic wardens, leaving the streets a parking ‘free for all’.
The lack of parking enforcement in Newport, Wales, has caused frustration from people living there who say they’ve been appealing for authorities to crack down on the problem for years.
Cars regularly park on single and double lines, resident-only areas and even pavements, according to reports.
Not many come back to find a ticket on their windscreens, Wales Online reports.
This has led to cars reportedly being parked on restricted areas in the city centre – near the train station and surrounding residential areas daily.
But Gwent Police say parking enforcement is currently not a policing priority and confirmed they do not have contracted traffic wardens in the city centre.
In a statement issued in December, Councillor Roger Jeavons, the council’s cabinet member for streetscene said: With the police withdrawing from enforcement, and continuing dissatisfaction being expressed by residents and businesses across the city regarding the rising levels of illegal parking, the introduction of civil parking enforcement is widely welcomed across the city.
We have officers working behind the scenes reviewing traffic orders and checking all the regulations are watertight in readiness for us taking charge.
Under these new powers, the council will deploy 12 enforcement officers to work across the city with authority to issue penalty charge notices for parking contraventions.
Police officers are currently responsible for parking enforcement. However, this is currently not a policing priority as set by the community.
Our city centre priorities are reducing anti-social behaviour, working with partners to address issues around begging and homelessness, reducing violence associated with the night time economy, and tackling organised criminality.
Therefore, parking enforcement is carried out when demand and resources allow.