Powys County Council hands out 1,500 parking tickets

More than 1,500 parking tickets have been handed out to motorists in Mid Wales since Powys County Council took over enforcement from police three months ago.

The new council traffic wardens have been bran-ded "too strict" and "inconsistent" by angry drivers and councillors.

There have been claims in Welshpool, Newtown and Presteigne as well as Machynlleth that parking officers are being overzealous with handing out parking fines.

Powys County Council said between April 1 and June 30 its Civil Enforcement Officers issued 1,522 parking tickets.

In Newtown, the leader of the town's 21st Century Action Group, said you "never know where you stand" with the wardens.

Philip Glynn said: "They are so inconsistent. Some days they are incredibly strict and some days you won't see them at all."

Before April, Powys had three traffic wardens and 10 council-run public car park monitors. Now there are nine civil enforcement officers monitoring on and off-street parking.

In Presteigne, there are claims elderly drivers are reluctant to park in the high street for fear of receiving a ticket.

Lee Evans, Powys County Council spokesman, said: "We are aware of the claims that the civil parking enforcement officers are enforcing the existing parking regulations in an over-zealous manner but we have received no specific complaints on this issue.

"Our civil parking enforcement officers are fully trained and have the appropriate qualifications to enable them to carry out any enforcement action that is required and any enforcement action that is taken is appropriate and proportionate to the offence."