PRIVATE FIRM FOR PARKING
English company may be used
THE HIRING of a private firm to sort out Anglesey’s dog fouling and litter woes, could be extended to problem parking.
The county council has authorised a 12 month trial with Kingdom Security to handle on-thespot fines for fly tipping and dog fouling after officers conceded that both have been an issue on the island over recent years.
But following concerns over selfish car parking, the council confirmed the trial could soon be extended to clamping down on problem parking.
Officers had failed to issue any fines for dog fouling during 2014/15 or 2015/16, despite receiving 282 such complaints during those 24 months. Only 10 fixed penalties for littering were issued over the same period.
The St Helens-based company already works for 35 other coun- cils across the UK, including Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham.
From the start of the trial, this summer, they will issue fixed fines of £75 for all littering and dog fouling offences. Under the system preferred by Anglesey council, they will pay nothing to Kingdom, with the authority receiving a 5% cut of every fine – £3.75.
Cllr Richard Dew said that dog fouling was an issue that was often brought up on the doorstep, and felt many residents would welcome steps being taken to tackle the issue.
But during Monday’s Executive Meeting, where the trial was rubber stamped, Cllr Peter Rogers said: “Kingdom have done some terriffic work in other councils, and I welcome them being used to sort out littering and fly-tipping. But why stop there?
“There are often times when cars are double parked in Newborough, as well as other areas, which the county council has sofar failed to resolve.
“The village can claim to be one of Anglesey’s fastest growing visitor attractions due to the success of Llanddwyn as well as the national publicity generated by the Marram Grass Restaurant.
“But the traffic woes are holding it back at the moment.
“I can’t help feel that kingdom not also being used to sort out problem parking is a lost opportunity.”
In response, council leader Ieuan Williams said the 12 month trial could potentially be revisited after three months, when the possibility of Kingdom also taking on parking fine duties, would be explored.