Parking wardens taken off streets to help elsewhere

Parking wardens are being taken off the streets to answer helpline calls in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

The move has been made by Ashford Borough Council.

A spokesman for the authority said that due to the coronavirus emergency traffic wardens had now been reassigned and trained to carry out community duties and that only significant parking violations would be punishable.

“We can advise that as of March 23 our civic enforcement officers will primarily be working on duties essential to supporting community services rather than on parking duties.

“They are still dealing with significant parking incidents which are reported to the council, for example, to ensure free flow of traffic for emergency vehicles, to respond to reports of dangerous parking and protecting parking provision for disabled and blue badge holders.”

New duties for Ashford parking wardens include supporting Ashford Lifeline, a personal home security system, where vulnerable residents can get help in a medical or personal emergency by pressing a button that connects them to a trained advisor.

The authority will also now allow resident permit holders to park for free in council car parks to free up congested residential streets, which are filled with the cars from a new army of home-workers.

The move comes after a row erupted when two officials were observed at work in Tenterden on Saturday, March 21.

Builder Mike Carter, who is also a town councillor, says he saw wardens sweeping through Tenterden High Street issuing tickets and described the actions as “abhorrent”.

He said: “Drivers of the few cars parked there were probably picking up shopping or prescriptions. They may have lost their jobs or be caring for someone who is ill.”

Another resident Paul Webster said that he was “flabbergasted” to see wardens at work and issuing tickets on the same day.

Mr Webster called for fines to be waived from the previous Friday when bars, shops and restaurants were told by the government to close.

He added that he was “not attacking the parking inspectors but rather highlighting the misappropriate allocation of council resources.”

Parking wardens have been redeployed elsewhere