Lancashire parking replacement to be 'more flexible' (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Lancashire parking replacement to be 'more flexible'

5:25pm Friday 28th August 2009 in

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THE replacement for the county council’s controversial Parkwise scheme has been announced – and bosses pledge the new wardens will be ‘more flexible’.

The new on-street scheme known as Lancashire Parking Services will be launched on Monday.

It will enforce on-street restrictions such as limited waiting bays, parking in bus lanes and parking on pedestrian crossings and also council car parks in some districts.

The new scheme has been hailed by the county’s Highways cabinet councillor as ‘more co-ordinated and flexible’ than Parkwise.

Contractors NSL, which was formerly NCP, will employ the wardens for LCC and provide IT systems and equipment.

Lancashire County Council say its staff will be more able to closely manage wardens than before, result-ing in a more flexible service.

County Coun Keith Young, cabinet member for High-ways and Transport, said: “We will be in direct control of what the wardens do and so we can be more flexible.

“If the public tell us the wardens are over zealous, we can respond to that and similarly if the roads are not free or safe we can take action.

“Officers will also be able to travel across district boundaries where they are needed. The scheme will be more simplified and streamlined.”

Parking wardens uniforms will change from grey to blue and wardens will also be using more up to date hand held technology than previously.

Wardens will also be criminal record bureau checked as standard.

Enforcement for off-street car parks for three of Lancashire’s district councils in South Ribble, Lancaster and Wyre will also be provided.

However Lancashire Parking Services will not enforce district council ‘off-street’ car parks in Burnley, Chorley, Fylde, Hyndburn, Preston, Pendle, Rossendale, Ribble Valley and West Lancashire.

Parkwise will end on Sunday after costly over-heads and bickering between councils over who should shoulder debts led the schem to be scrapped. As a result each district will control its own off-street car parks.

ParkWise aw a joint responsibilty between the county and Lancashire’s 12 district councils for all county council car parks.