The fate of traffic warden services in Stirling was brought to Parliament by Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser on Thursday.
The Conservative MSP quizzed the Justice Secretary on the rationale of imposing Police Scotland cuts onto Stirling Council. However, Kenny MacAskill refused to answer the Stirling question and instead talked up services in Fife and Edinburgh. The Justice Secretary then suggested that Stirling Council ask Fife Council for tips on how to deal with the extra responsibilities brought by decriminalised parking. The replacement service will cost Stirling Council an extra £180,000 annually.
Police Scotland is proposing that local authorities take over parking enforcement responsibilities but Stirling Council has stated that it does not have enough time to implement the replacement service.
A row has since erupted when Police Scotland claimed that a deal had been struck with Stirling Council over payments to use the current service until the council employed their own wardens.
Commenting Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“The justice secretary can’t give a serious answer to serious question and is clearly not interested in what is happening in Stirling.
“A major problem has been created due to Police Scotland cost cutting and this move will place a large burden on Stirling Council.
“The Scottish Government must get a grip of the situation before it gets out of hand, it is completely unreasonable for Holyrood to offload cuts onto already cash-strapped local authority.”