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Huge rise in parking tickets

A Beacon Radio investigation has revealed a huge rise in the number of parking tickets being issued in Walsall. 

17 council wardens took over from the police in April and since then have handed out almost 2,400 tickets in their first month in charge.

That's more than 15 times the number issued in April last year and the equivalent of 1 for every 100 people living in the town.

Through a freedom of information request Beacon found the number of tickets handed out by the council last month was more than West Midlands Police issued for the whole of 2008.

Walsall Council's transport boss Steve Pretty justified the rise.....

"The whole point of civil parking enforcement is to enable the local authorities to properly manage the network both in safety terms and traffic congestion, but obviously we are resourced now to meet the needs where the police obviously had other priorities."

Steve also told Beacon Radio that the authority was acting on requests from people and businesses in Walsall.....

"We have had a lot of complaints from residents and businesses who've complained about parking problems. Safety issues in front of their properties, preventing them from delivering to their businesses, disabled bays being taken by other people."

If you've been given a ticket in the last month or have noticed an improvement, get in touch.....