Parking fines scoop £1m in a year - 36,221 tickets given out

MOTORISTS have handed the Royal Borough an estimated £1million in fines since council parking enforcement teams hit the streets a year ago. Wednesday marked the first anniversary of the decriminalisation of on-street parking, with 36,221 tickets issued during the past 12 months.

Windsor traders have mixed opinions over the success of enforcement in the town centre since it

switched from police to council responsibility.

While they are pleased that one-hour bays are being freed up, they are frustrated by residents-only spaces lying empty during the day. Traffic wardens were ditched by Thames Valley Police in May 2006 and officers told to juggle ticketing with other duties. Police struggled to cope with enforcement and despite many drivers blatantly flouting the law, the number of tickets issued plummeted.

In 2007 the council decided to take over the reins. It now has 70 people in its parking team and 15 attendants patrolling the streets, dishing out penalty charges, which can cost errant motorists anything from £25 to £70. The borough has not confirmed the amount of revenue it has received.

This could range from a minimum of £900,000, rising to a possible maximum £2.4million. All money from the fines has gone back to the cost of running the scheme and making improvements to parking.

Cllr Colin Rayner, cabinet member for highways and streetcare, said the number of tickets issued

was actually slightly below expectations, but added that he was 'absolutely delighted' with the success of the scheme.

"When we introduced it I thought there would be riots but I have had people kiss me in the streets in Windsor," he said. "We still have a lot of work to do, but our view is that we have tackled the

problem." Trader David Jessey agreed, although he said there still needs to be some 'tweaking'. He owns John Goodwin Tailors in Peascod Street and said: "All the people in Windsor have noticed a significant change in enforcement. There used to be a lot of abuse of parking."

Drivers in Windsor have had 19,026 tickets stuck on their cars - an average of 1,585 per month.

The High Street has seen a massive crackdown with attendants issuing 1,587 tickets in total. Thames Street follows close behind with 1,424 tickets in the last year.

But not everyone is happy with the vigilance of the attendants. Ailsa Navarro-Montes, assistant manager at Windsor Cashmere and Woollens in Thames Street, said her elderly customers have to rush as they are worried about getting a ticket. She added: "Even the boss cannot park his car outside the shop to load up without fighting off traffic wardens." But Roz Clarke, who has

owned a ladieswear shop in St Leonard's Road for 29 years, is pleased the attendants are a regular presence.

Figures show Windsor has seen a 16 per cent increase in the turnover of spaces in designated

one-hour bays. Police inspector Mark Millward said he was only too happy to have handed

over responsibility as it had freed up officers for other duties.