PARKING wardens will be seen on the streets of Wokingham as early as May 2017.

Thames Valley Police are responsible for parking enforcement across the borough but plans lodged with the government will see the borough council take some of their powers.

Cllr Keith Baker, leader of Wokingham Borough Council, said: "Local people and businesses also want us to take this on, and many already think we do.

"Please be patient with us. There’ll be some parking regulations that are no longer relevant because traffic movements and geography around them have changed. We won’t know until civil parking enforcement beds in. So we will review those then.

"Clearly with 1,700 roads in the borough we will prioritise certain areas such as outside schools."

Wokingham Borough Council is currently consulting with emergency services, parish councils, neighbouring councils and other statutory bodies ahead of submitting its application in summer.

The application process takes up to 18 months and requires an act of Parliament to transfer the powers from the police to the council.

Wokingham Borough Council will not know if it's application to take on parking powers is successful until March 2017.

Civil parking enforcement would see the borough council take over responsibility for parking on double yellow lines, double parking, parking across dropped kerbs, parking in a residents' zone without a permit and overstaying in timed bays.

The council would also have powers to tackle cars blocking verges and pavements or parked inconsiderately next to single yellow lines.

Under the scheme police would retain powers to deal with obstructions across the road.

Most other borough councils in the UK have taken responsibility for parking enforcement.