Extra wardens set to patrol city streets

More parking wardens are set to be recruited to patrol Leicester because of growing problems in areas close to the city centre.

The extra staff could be walking streets in Belgrave, Highfields, the West End and Narborough Road from April to tackle illegal parkers there, it was revealed today.

Four staff were added to the roster of 33 wardens to tackle problems in those areas last year. However, the pressures of patrolling the city centre means workers have been unable to concentrate on enforcement there.

At the moment 20 wardens are on the city's streets at any one time handing out fines.

Cabinet member for transport councillor Patrick Kitterick says continuing complaints from people outside the city centre means four more staff are needed.

He said: "When we first took over we thought that once we had tackled the city centre then we could tackle the problems by spreading outwards.

"But the parking problems in the city centre have proved more stubborn than we thought, so the new staff have been unable to properly fulfil their duties elsewhere.

"Four more staff are being considered because councillors are approaching me regularly about illegal parking."

The news comes as the council said it expects to make £2 million profit on its scheme this year, cash which must be ploughed back into transport projects across the city.

Much of the cash could end up being used to prop up free bus travel for pensioners and the disabled, which may cost the authority about £1 million more than expected this year.

City traffic manager Andy Thomas said: "This surplus is used only for traffic purposes, I am very strong about that as this (traffic wardens) is not a cash cow for the rest of the city council. Sometimes we look like we are being too hard on people but we are making tough decisions for the right reasons, and traffic management has improved since we took over because of this."

Yesterday, the Mercury revealed fewer parking fines were dished out to motorists in Leicester last year – despite more traffic wardens.

Transport bosses said it appeared drivers were getting the message and not risking fines.

More than 56,000 tickets were given out in the city last year, racking up over £3.6million in fines. In 2007, the figure was 65,000.

The council revealed in its budget last week it would increase the number of places with parking restrictions.

They hope to raise £420,000 more each year by cutting free parking in areas on the edge of the city centre and replace it with pay-and-display schemes.

Great Central Street, Jarrom Street and Conduit Street will be looked at as they are often clogged by commuters who leave their cars there all day.

Carly Day, 22, of Western Road, Leicester, said: "In my road there are normally one or two cars each week with a ticket on their windscreen."