Newport could be without traffic wardens for the next two years, because of bureaucratic red tape, it was revealed this week.
Earlier this year it was announced that West Mercia police will no longer be providing wardens for the town from January 2010 due to budget constraints.
And this week the town received a fresh blow when it emerged that it could take until 2012 for the Telford &?Wrekin Council to be granted the necessary accreditation!
That could leave the town in chaos as care-free drivers take advantage and park where they please.
Speaking at Wednesday night’s Community Safety committee meeting of Newport Town Council, Councillor Peter Scott, said the decision would cause massive problems for the town.
“The problem is getting worse,” said Mr Scott.
“People are parking where they like and it’s becoming a serious problem.
“We cannot afford to wait two years to see if anyone will do anything.
“We are already over-run with people who park wherever they like.”
Telford & Wrekin Council need to apply to central government to take over the duty of managing parking - a process which can take up to two years.
And the current traffic wardens, who cover a wide area across the borough, may even be removed before the turn of the year if they are reassigned elsewhere.
Councillors at Wednesday night’s meeting said Newport Town Council does not have the power to employ traffic wardens themselves.
Under the new plans West Mercia Police will still be expected to take action when unlawful parking creates an obvious dangerous situation.
However, they have admitted they will need to balance their priorities and won’t be able to deal with every offence.
If and when Telford & Wrekin Council is granted the relevant accreditation to employ wardens directly, questions will be asked about funding.
The obvious solution would be to introduce parking charges in the town centre - a plan which has already failed once after huge public outcry.
And Councillor Tim Nelson said he was against parking charges.
He said: “That is not something I want in this town. I don’t support people parking on double yellow lines, but I am also firmly against charging people to park here.”