Residents post pictures of illegal Newport parking

Drivers beware – snap happy residents have started posting photographs of illegal parking in one Shropshire town on the internet.

A badly parked taxi in front of St Nicholas Church, Newport

People frustrated by drivers routinely flouting parking laws in Newport have taken to Facebook to shame those responsible.

Examples of poor parking already captured on camera include cars parked on pavements, on zig zags by traffic lights and even strewn over two parking bays.

The photos have been posted on to the Newport Shropshire News, Views and Idle Chit Chat page. The page is run by an anonymous group of people.

Today town mayor Councillor Tony Forrester said he did not blame people for airing their frustrations publicly.

This van appears to be parked on double yellow lines

Newport has been without parking wardens since 2010 when West Mercia Police announced it could no longer provide the service due to budget cuts.

Since then the force has admitted that parking is no longer a priority and that it will only ticket people who are causing a serious obstruction.

Newport Town Council is pushing Telford & Wrekin Council to apply for civil parking enforcement, which would take the responsibility for parking out of the hands of the police and allow the local authority to employ parking wardens. But the council has been told that the legislation is unlikely to be in place until April 2015.

Councillor Forrester said: "I think it comes out of sheer frustration that we are getting nowhere with parking in Newport.

"People are trying every method possible to try and shame the culprits.

"Until we get proper enforcement nothing will be done."

This driver left the car half on the pavement

Councillor Peter Scott urged people to send the photographs to Telford & Wrekin Council to encourage the authority to push harder for civil parking enforcement (CPE).

He said: "I think it's a pity that it has come to this.

"It's really down to the police or the borough council to deal with this properly.

"People are getting exasperated with the lack of any control over parking so they feel that Facebook is the place to air their frustration.

"The photographs should be aimed at the council and people should be demanding CPE. The more people go to Telford & Wrekin and complain, the more they will listen."

Earlier this year Telford & Wrekin Council chiefs said any bid to bring back parking wardens would have to wait for Government legislation to be brought in.