Parking problem worry for council

Residents will have "huge problems" in Gloucestershire if the county council gets parking enforcement wrong, a highways boss has warned.

The county and district council bosses are currently deciding how to deal with the issue.

Responsibility for enforcement is due to switch from Gloucestershire Police to the councils in 2007.

Paul Galland, head of Highways at the county council, said enforcement is vital to avoid problems for motorists.

"Residents' and disabled parking will not be enforced," he said. "Illegal parking will clog our streets.

"We want to work together with district councils to ensure that long term running costs are properly and fairly covered, without pushing up council tax."

He added the county council wanted to run one scheme for the whole county but that district councils has expressed an interest in running enforcement.

"We have to have a consistent policies to ensure that the approach is the same wherever you live," Mr Galland added.

(bbc.co.uk 15th July 2006)