Councillors say the scheme, expected to be introduced later this year, will make the roads safer and less congested by reducing the number of traffic infringements. Every week hundreds of cars head into city centre streets, such as Ranelagh Street and St John's Lane, even though such journeys are prohibited. Regeneration executive member Cllr Peter Millea said: "The new integrated parking IT system will allow the council to commence enforcement of certain moving restrictions, including bus lane enforcement." Although police traffic wardens already book motorists making the illegal manoeuvres, most get away without being caught. The new powers, using the new Traffic Management Act, will mean far higher numbers of bookings by council attendants. Liverpool was the fourth highest issuer of parking fines with attendants handing out 109,869 tickets, each for £30, in 2004, compared with 135,970 in Manchester and 90,808 in Nottingham. Mr McArthur-Christie said: "We have already seen what happens when local authorities get control of fixed penalty notices. "Police traffic wardens offer a considerable amount of discretion. For example if someone is parked illegally they will ask them to move on, but council parking attendants will slap a ticket on someone's windscreen without a second thought." Last week, councillors approved £500,000 to enable the council parking service to establish a new permanent home in Paradise Street multi-storey car park. They also agreed £500,000 to be invested in a computer system that will process images of drivers caught on existing cameras around the city, in a bid to reduce the number of appeals. A report to last Friday's council executive board by council official Roy Tunstall said the existing software no longer met the needs of the parking service. The new system will make it easier for the council to track down people who have unpaid penalty charges outstanding, as well as pinpointing persistent traffic offenders. larryneild@dailypost.co.uk | 
News RSS Feed