On April 8, Caerphilly County Borough Council will take on responsibility for civil parking enforcement from Gwent Police.
A team of ten parking officers, which will make up the equivalent of eight full-time staff, will patrol Caerphilly County Borough issuing fines to motorists flaunting the parking rules.
The new wardens will enforce all parking regulations.
These include:
• Prohibition of Stopping (i.e. Bus Stops, School Keep Clear markings, Zig-zags on the approaches to pedestrian crossings and rural clearway restrictions).
• No Waiting and No Loading.
• Parking Bays specifically for Limited Waiting, Loading, Taxis, Disabled Persons, Doctors, Police, Funeral Directors Vehicles and Permit holders.
They will also be able to issue Penalty Charge notices for:
• Vehicles parked across dropped kerbs.
• Vehicles parked more than 50cm away from the kerb.
• Vehicles parked other than in accordance with the car park regulations in council owned car parks.
The Penalty Charge Notices will be £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days for the most serious contraventions. For lesser infringements the fines will be £50 and reduced to £25 if paid within 14 days.
Revenue generated by the fines will be used by the council to run the Civil Parking Enforcement service. Any surplus will be spent on the highway and transportation network.
Caerphilly Council has said the officers will be used to target areas affected by bad parking but that they will not have targets to hit.
Under the traffic regulation order adopted by the council, parking officers will be expected to work 7am to 10pm, seven days a week including bank holidays.
They will also wear body cameras for their own safety.