‘SAFETY’ is cited as the reason for an application for a new parking enforcement scheme.

As reported in the News last week, Wokingham Borough Council have applied to take over the control of civil parking enforcements from the police.

This would give them the power to hand out parking notices to people parking on double yellow lines.

Council leader, Keith Baker, said: “When yellow lines are put around a school, they are put there for safety reasons because the risk to the safety of children going to school by cars parked on yellow lines is very high. It makes imminent sense.”

Although the application has not yet been granted, it is likely that they will be successful as the authority are one of the last in the country to apply for the responsibility.

Liberal Democrat Councillor, Lindsay Ferris, was at the forefront of this idea, and proposed the motion back in 2015.

He said: “The introduction of CPE should not be used as a form of revenue generation. I know that we would need to have between two and four wardens to be able to go around in any street on a regular basis. It’s something that the council need to take account of.”

The councillor, who represents Twyford, believes there will not be a noticeable increase in council tax to pay for the service.

He added: “I think what the council should do is make it cost neutral. An increase would not be significant. The main costs are going to be staff. I don’t think it’s designed to become a revenue generator.”

If the application is successful, the council would likely hire in a contractor to manage the CPE’s.

Cllr Keith Baker said: “The police, because of stretched resources, find it very difficult to carry out that enforcement. The council is going to be looking for an enforcement agency.

“We have a social cost of trying to improve the safety around schools. If that costs the council money, then so be it. The safety of children is paramount.”