Press release and photocall 9 June 2008

There will be a photocall with Cllr Heather Wheeler, Leader of South Derbyshire District Council preparing to hand out Warning Notices to drivers parked illegally in disabled driver's bays on Tuesday 10 June, 2008 at 10 am at the Civic Offices in Swadlincote

From the autumn there will be council traffic wardens in South Derbyshire to stop selfish motorists parking where it's not allowed.

Says Cllr Heather Wheeler, Leader of South Derbyshire District Council, "There will be a seamless change from police wardens on the street to wardens working for your local authority. The traffic wardens will have the same powers to stop people parking on double yellow lines and in no waiting areas. They will stop those reckless people who park on the zigzags outside schools which are there to protect our children. They will also fine those people who take over disabled drivers' bays and deny the spaces to those who need them."

The new service is being provided across Derbyshire by the County Council and District Councils working together for their local residents. A specialist contractor will be policing the whole county.

Cllr Heather Wheeler continues, "There's a reason for parking restrictions but some people think that the laws don’t apply to them. They might decide to change their anti-social behaviour when they are faced with an on-the-spot fine.

"We are already cracking down on people who park in disabled driver’s bays without a blue badge. We’re giving them warning notices to encourage them to have a conscience and to think of other people. Come the autumn if they don’t feel it in their hearts, they will feel it in their wallets."

picture: Leader of the council, Councillor Heather Wheeler