Driver warning as traffic wardens told to give out more parking fines after council lost £8,000 in six months

TRAFFIC wardens have been told they need to dish out more parking fines after a council lost £8,000 in six months.

Blaenau Gwent council handed out just 1,029 tickets between November 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021.

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But according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council's business model says that 3,500 penalty notices need to be issued each year.

It means ticket officers will have to triple the number of fines they give out in order to hit targets.

It comes after the scheme's costs dropped to a deficit of £8.042 this year.

Blaenau Gwent council officer Mark Hopkins told councillors lockdown meant staff had been redeployed to work elsewhere.

And this had an impact on the number of fines dished out,

During 2020/21 the scheme ended up with a surplus of £11,466, partly because of a £27,000 Welsh government grant.

This was to off-set car parking payments lost during the first national lockdown between March 2020 and July 2020.

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But by April and September this year, the cost was showing an £8,042 deficit.

Community services scrutiny committee Mandy Moore chairperson said: "A full review needs to be done.

"Taking Covid aside, this hasn't seen the best outcomes we would want."

Mr Hopkins answered: "Over the last two years, due to Covid restrictions, staff unavailability and sickness, we haven't had a long run of having two CPOs (Civil Enforcement Officers) fully working in Blaenau Gwent."

Mrs Moore added the review should examine whether there are enough parking officers in the area.

The council's executive environment member, Joanna Wilkins, said: "It is important that the existing business model can continue to progress and ensure safety where required."