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Scooters warning to law-breaking motorists
MOTORISTS breaking the law in Calderdale could soon be pursued by parking enforcement officers on scooters.
The officers would also be given luncheon and gift vouchers to improve their productivity.
Calderdale Council's Cabinet has invite a firm based in Hertfordshire to submit a quotation on taking over the management of local parking enforcement.
Vinci Park Services Ltd manages car parks throughout the country including a multi-storey in Mayfair London, one at the entrance to Gatwick Airport and new parking zones in Hull.
Wardens in Edinburgh and Glasgow have been using scooters for several years.
Economy and environment director Ian Gray told councillors that Vinci hoped to reduce costs by cutting the number of staff.
"This reduction is possible due to a combination of patrol reassessments and the ability to deploy staff more effectively using motor scooters," he said.
In a report Mr Gray said: "Vinci has indicated that there will be less down time such as returning to base for breaks or lunch and proposes using incentives such as lunch and gift vouchers."
But Coun Paul Rogan, (English Democrats, Rastrick), said: "I have never been terribly impressed by the idea of charging people you want to use your shops and services anyway but to pursue them on bikes does not fill me with any great enthusiasm. All this will do is take further advantage of the already overburdened and hard-pressed motorist."
Councillors agreed to privatise parking enforcement in 2008 in the hope of cutting costs and improving efficiency. The new company could take over in February 2010.
The council has struggled to recruit parking wardens and income from charges and fines has fallen in the recession. Of the 22 posts in the parking enforcement team, 12 are vacant and two senior enforcement officers are on long-term sick leave.
Coun Rogan added: "I am not surprised by these figures. It is an awful job. If you went into a pub and said you were a parking enforcement officer how many rounds of drinks do you think you would be bought?"
About 1,200 parking fines have been issued each month this year.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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