Council raises traffic warden concerns with chief constable

Orkney Islands Council has raised concerns over police plans to remove traffic warden services in the county with Scotland’s Chief Constable, Sir Stephen House.

Councillor Andrew Drever, the chairman of the local Road Safety Forum and the OIC’s police and fire sub-committee, has questioned whether the cost-cutting measure would result in any genuine savings and has raised the OIC’s “deep misgivings” and disappointment at the decision.

He said: “Police Scotland’s intention is that provision of a traffic warden service should fall to the council – we are clear that parking enforcement remains with the police in Orkney.

“Orkney Islands Council is working under reduced budgets and, as Scotland’s smallest local authority, we will not have the same opportunities to recoup warden costs from parking fines in the way that bigger councils could.

“A council-employed traffic warden would also have much reduced authority in terms of some of the roles they currently carry out.  We have no intention of taking on the statutory responsibility of others where this would detract from the delivery of our own statutory services.

“We will continue to press Police Scotland to reconsider their decision and would encourage the local community to get behind our call.”