BLACKBURN with Darwen council is hopeful it will have its ‘spy car’ to tackle dangerous parking operating next year.

Officials are hopeful they will get Department of Transport authorisation for the specially-equipped vehicle early in the New Year.

The borough proposes to introduce the £50,000 vehicle with a CCTV camera attached to its roof despite government ministers expressing concerns about their over-zealous use by councils.

The car would use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology to identify the owner of vehicles breaking traffic laws and then issue fines of up to £70 direct to their home.

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Borough regeneration boss Maureen Bateson denies the council wants the car to raise cash.

In June, Road Safety Minister Robert Goodwill said that using CCTV for routine parking enforcement was ‘not acceptable’, warning of a ‘deeply rooted’ public perception of councils which used such cameras as a cash-cow.

Coun Bateson is confident the council’s proposals for the spy car were in line with government policy.

Earlier this year she said: “People have approached me and other councillors time and time again to say one of their biggest concerns is bad and inconsiderate parking especially near schools.”

Headteachers and Lancashire police have welcomed the move which is strongly opposed by campaign group Big Brother Watch.

A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council said “We are currently continuing to work with the Department for Transport to finalise plans for the use of enhanced enforcement measures.”

He added that the borough is hopeful that the necessary authorisation would be issued in the New Year.