Council in plan to take over parking enforcement.

RESPONSIBILITY for enforcing all parking rules in Northumberland is set to be taken over by the county''s super council - leaving the police to concentrate on more pressing priorities.

At present, on-street parking enforcement in town centres is done by Northumbria Police traffic wardens, with off-street car parks patrolled by council attendants.

But concerns have been voiced that the on-street service has seen a marked decline as police resources are devoted to tackling crime, anti-social behaviour and other problems.

Now the county council has agreed to follow in the footsteps of other local authorities in the region and across the country by making all parking control a civil rather than criminal matter. A draft timetable has been drawn up which envisages the council taking over responsibility in January 2011. But it first needs Government approval.

If successful, the application will leave the authority with the responsibility for ensuring that drivers pay both on and off-street parking charges, don''t flout parking restrictions, keep double yellow lines clear and that waiting and loading restrictions are observed.

Newcastle City, North Tyneside and Durham County councils are among those which have already introduced civil parking enforcement.

The council will be able to use the revenue from on-street charges and fines to fund enforcement work, with any surpluses used to improve car parks.

A further report about the plans will be brought back to the executive in March.