It's not something parking wardens are usually accused of... but some have been criticised for being too nice. An inspection in two Welsh towns found officers there were reluctant to issue tickets, letting many locals get away with parking offences. And their lax approach meant that parking in the evenings and at weekends had become a ‘free for all’. Inspectors in Welshpool and Llandrindod Wells have been accused of being too lax when it comes to giving out parking tickets for infringements (file picture) The investigation was carried out by officials from Powys County Council, who could not understand why the council was losing money on enforcing parking restrictions. Powys council needs to issue 40 per cent more tickets just to break even. Councillors shadowed wardens three times in the towns of Welshpool and Llandrindod Wells and found there were plenty of infringements, but many were going unticketed. In one case, a driver had already overrun their allotted time by 15 minutes, but the warden ‘still appeared to be reluctant to issue the ticket’. Officials also often did not penalise tradesmen for parking in restricted areas – even though only water and electricity vehicles are allowed to stop in them without permits. The councillors said some of the conversations they overheard between residents and officers ‘would indicate that paying to park may be the exception rather than the rule’. Even when tickets were issued, 39 per cent were cancelled at the first challenge. The councillors said some of the conversations they overheard between residents and officers ‘would indicate that paying to park may be the exception rather than the rule’ (file picture) The investigators suggested a range of actions to toughen up the operation, including shortening the grace period drivers are given after their time runs out before a ticket is issued. They said wardens are currently leaving it ‘too long’, particularly since the process to issue a ticket itself takes seven minutes and can be aborted at any time. They also said ticketing policies need to be more consistent across Powys as ‘decisions are made locally and sometimes contrary to police recommendations’. Some 5,000 tickets are issued in Powys, bringing in £1.2million a year, but the council is still subsidising the operation. The report said 7,000 tickets would need to be issued to make the service ‘cost neutral’.
Probe carried out by Powys council in Welshpool and Llandrindod Wells .
Council needs to issue 40 per cent more parking tickets just to break even .
Councillors shadowed wardens and found infringements going unticketed .