Politicians will debate the removal of Police Scotland Traffic Wardens on Tuesday in the Scottish Parliament.
A motion put forward by Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser, has objected to the removal of Police Scotland traffic wardens, noting issues faced by Stirling Council as demonstrative of the wider picture in Scotland for local authorities without decriminalised parking enforcement in place.
Decriminalisation is believed to take up to 2 years to complete with a full consultation process required. In the interim period Police Scotland are willing to provide traffic wardens but at a cost of up to £90,000 to Stirling Council. This move becomes more complicated when it is realised that all fines collected in the interim period are channelled straight to the Treasury and not into the Stirling Council budget.
Commenting before the debate Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“Police Scotland is shifting budget cuts from their books onto the budgets of Local Authorities. We expect better from our Police force.
"Over the past five years traffic wardens have found over 11,000 vehicles parked inappropriately in Stirling and fines have acted as a deterrent to motorists thinking of parking irresponsibly.
“These changes have been foisted upon Local Authorities who have had little time to react to the removal of services. The majority of areas are without decriminalised parking and this move will place a strain on resources during a time when councils are already dealing with stretched budgets.”
Stirling Conservatives Policing Spokesman Cllr Martin Earl said:
"Local authorities have not been given enough time to develop any alternative plans. In December Police Scotland notified Stirling Council of its withdrawal of Traffic Wardens from February 4th!.
"The lack of an open consultation is extremely concerning as is the inability of the Scottish Police Authority to hold Police Scotland to account on this and other matters. I know that COSLA have complained about this in writing to the Scottish Parliament's Justice Committee.
Stirling council has to decide if decriminalised parking is best value for our taxpayers , at the very least Police Scotland should be maintaining their service to allow any Local Authority to explore that option and cover the time it takes to put it in place.