Browse Sections

• Education
• Special reports

Council leader in attack on traffic warden ‘vultures’

John Fahey
23/ 6/2005

ACCRINGTON'S traffic wardens are behaving like "vultures" and scaring shoppers so much they are damaging trade.

This claim was made by Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe at a meeting of the Town Centre Regeneration Board, where he said over-zealous wardens have pounced on shoppers so much they are now refusing to shop in Accrington.

He said: "I am surprised more tolerance and discretion haven't been shown by the traffic wardens. I hoped the rule of common sense would apply a little more than it has been doing. Personally, I am very unhappy with the wardens.

"We have to draw a balance of what is right. Some people have told me they are not coming to Accrington because the wardens are so vigilant. It needs sorting out.

"They hover like vultures waiting for the 30 minutes allowed for parking to elapse and we are making absolutely nothing from it."

He said: "For so long we have battered motorists in town centres so they have gone to out-of-town developments. For me, town centres and bashing motorists don't go hand in hand. We should be welcoming them.

"I don't consider 30 minutes sufficient time to do anything in Accrington. We are asking for longer time zones. Also, I'm asking for the parking disc system to be scrapped because we don't need it anymore. It's off-putting for visitors and the wardens are patrolling anyway."