A FLOOD of complaints are expected to pour in once the crackdown on parking in Waverley begins.

Negotiations are still ongoing over the number of wardens the borough will get but councillors are being warned to anticipate a surge of complaints in the future.

As previously reported by The Herald, parking enforcement is being decriminalised. This means that it will no longer be the police who dish out tickets to motorists who park on double yellow lines or remain in restricted parking areas for longer than allowed. Instead the government is handing this responsibility over to local authorities and Surrey Council Council has been forced to take this task on.

However, it has stuck up agreements with the majority of the districts in other parts of the county to carry out the enforcement on its behalf, but Waverley has become a sticking point with discussions still ongoing over a deal.

Surrey has said that it will pay for two parking attendants, while Waverley wants that increased to four.

Negotiations are ongoing and the final decision is likely to be made by Surrey County Council's executive in the near future.

A report was due to go to yesterday's (Thursday) meeting of the county's transportation select committee while the borough's executive will be updated on Tuesday.

If Surrey sticks to its guns, then Waverley will have the options of agreeing to the two wardens, investigating whether it can pay for the extra two wardens or refusing to sign the agreement – a move which would could parking chaos.

In the mean time on-street parking enforcement in the borough is carried out on an ad hoc basis by two wardens, thanks to an arrangement between the county council and the police.

This means that many drivers have been happy to park on double lines and exceed their time limits in restricted area, feeling that they are unlikely to get caught.

However, a report to next week's executive meeting of Waverley warned the council should brace itself for a barrage of complaints once the new arrangements are in place and high volumes of tickets issued as wardens "purge" the streets.

"Parking enforcement often raises contention and emotion, both from those who feel they are unreasonably penalised and those whose homes and businesses are affected by unreasonable parking," it said.

"Enquiries and complaints can, therefore, be expected to be directed at every level of management in the department, the the chief executive's complaints procedure and, ultimately, to members.

"Experience of those districts in Surrey that have adopted DPE (decriminalised parking enforcement) suggests the level of enquiries and complaints is beyond all expectation."

The report said that the council's legal department will need extra help in the first instance to cope with an expected influx of complaints and appeals.

Yesterday's county council meeting updated members on the potential financial consequences of DPE in years to come once enforcement is carried out across the entire county.

The report said that areas of Surrey already working under the new arrangements have forwarded suggestions to alter their arrangements, while the costs for areas such as Waverley are not fully known.

It suggested that a review is carried out next year to look at the arrangements across Waverley and whether any changes need to be made.

This could have an impact on Waverley's request if the county decides to consider increasing the number of wardens at the same time as it considers requests from elsewhere in the county.

The report also said that an increase would only be agreed if the number of extra tickets issued by additional wardens would cover the increased costs.

"To ensure that the net cost to the county is minimised, the county council only funds the optimum number of parking attendants in any borough or district," it said.

"Some requests have been received for more resources in the form of funding for additional parking attendants.

"Such requests are always considered on the basis of forecasts showing the likely additional income in comparison to cost increase."

Borough and county councillor David Harmer, who is the vice-chairman of the transportation select committee, told The Herald before the meeting that it was vital the uncertainty over Waverley resolved.

"It is important that we get an agreement as quickly as possible," he said.