APRIL 2, 2007 has been revealed as the target date for Waverley Council to take over enforcement of on-street parking regulations, bringing an end to a full year's chaos on the borough's streets. In the meantime, there could be a shock in store for some of those who have been taking advantage of the situation since the borough's traffic wardens were made redundant on April 1. Surrey County Council, reacting to public concerns about the current lack of enforcement, is making a certain amount of funding available so that police will hit some of the "hotspots". The police, who are the only people authorised to tackle breaches of the regulations until local authority parking enforcement comes into effect next April, have only been tackling those parked in dangerous situations in recent months. Just five parking tickets have been handed out in the borough since April. The extra money will mean a blitz on some of the areas where motorists persistently flout the regulations. The police will be targeting their efforts on areas identified by the neighbourhood policing panels, and residents with suggestions will be encouraged to channel them through the panels. Supt Kul Verma said that the police do not have the resources to target all parking infringements, so they want to hear from the public about what is causing the most aggravation. The long delay in introducing what is now being called local authority parking enforcement, rather than decriminalised parking enforcement, is because of the formalities involved in making sure the restricted areas are correctly "signed and lined" have Department for Transport approval. Surrey County Council will remain the authority responsible for making the regulations. Waverley will take on responsibility for actually walking the streets and issuing the tickets under an agency agreement, although some offences, such as obstruction, will continue to be enforced by the police. Concerted publicity in advance of the start of the new arrangements has been promised, along with signs at the entrance to each town. A month or two before the new system comes in, penalty charge notices will be issued, with the advice that if drivers persist in parking inappropriately, they will be ticketed. "I am pleased that the agencies are working together," said John Robini, Waverley's portfolio holder for transport. He went on to attack those motorists "who don't give a damn", parking to the detriment of buses and disabled drivers.
