A SHORTAGE of resources and money is to blame for the continuing problems of illegal on-street parking around Petersfield town centre.
The loss of the town's dedicated traffic warden last year – with no replacement on the horizon – has caused a political headache for both Hampshire Police and East Hampshire District Council.
They have been in discussions for months about the tran
sfer of responsibility from police to the district council for enforcing parking issues, but a lack of manpower on one side, and a lack of cash on the other, has prevented any progress from being made.
In the meantime vehicles are parked for hours on either side of the High Street, causing obstructions for lorries and buses, while cars parked in shop loading bays continue to make deliveries difficult for town retailers.
Chief Inspector Phil Kedge, East Hampshire's District Commander, said: "There are no plans to replace Hampshire Constabulary traffic wardens within East Hampshire, and the constabulary is currently engaged in positive discussions with East Hampshire District Council regarding passing over enforcement of parking issues.
"Against important policing priorities, police will assist in low level parking enforcement where there is the potential for a significant community impact, which is supported by the locally elected leader of that area.
"We will respond as normal where there is an immediate risk to the public or property."
He added: "I appreciate that there is going to be a gap in service until parking can be decriminalised but we have to ensure that minor parking issues do not compromise our priorities towards targeting criminals and reducing anti-social behaviour."
His counterpart at Penns Place confirmed both organisations were still in negotiations to find a solution to the problem.
East Hampshire District Council's leader, Cllr David Parkinson, said: "East Hampshire District Council is currently looking into ways we can help the police with this issue. However, it is a very complex area.
"If East Hampshire District Council agreed to take on the responsibility of enforcing on-street parking from the police we would first have to introduce decriminalised parking, and that in itself is a lengthy process, then there would also be a large cost implication."
Cllr Parkinson added: "We're looking at all the options, talking to other authorities and only when we have all that information will we make our decision."
Petersfield Town Mayor Cllr Hilary Ayer felt the police were doing all they could to carry on enforcing parking regulations in the town, but agreed there were growing problems with on-street parking.
She said: "It is definitely the police who are responsible for parking. The police are taking steps so that if they see cars that are illegally parked then they issue a parking notice.
"We just do not have a traffic warden, which adds to the number of people that are parking illegally in the town centre."
She believed one police officer in the town, PC Dan Hurst, warranted credit for stepping in and taking extra responsibility for traffic problems in the absence of a traffic warden patrolling the streets.
Cllr Ayer added: "PC Hurst, who deals with central Petersfield, has really taken it on himself to make sure the police do what they can to deal with the problems.
"I don't live in the centre of town myself but you do see cars parked where they are not supposed to be parking and I do agree that the problems seems to be getting worse.
"But the police have said they are still issuing tickets and are still out on patrol."
