LIB DEMS CALL FOR MORE TRAFFIC WARDENS IN CARDIFF

10.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 23rd Oct 2006

Liberal Democrats in Cardiff have called on the South Wales Police Authority to lift their cap on recruitment and employ additional traffic wardens in Cathays and Roath.

The Cathays police sector, which covers Cathays, Roath, Gabalfa and Mynachdy is only served by four traffic wardens, of whom three only work part time.

Jenny Randerson, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for Cardiff Central, said, "I think it's scandalous that in a densely populated residential area with over 20,000 people living in it, the police can employ the equivalent of two and half traffic wardens."

"As parking enforcement will remain a police responsibility for a number of years, I have written to write to the Chief Constable asking her to invest money in training and employing additional traffic wardens."

South Wales Police have been reluctant to employ any additional police officers because the responsibility for traffic enforcement will eventually be transferred to Cardiff Council under the Decriminalisation of Parking Enforcement and the Establishment of the Controlled Parking Zones. However the CPZ won't be rolled out until early 2009, so the people of Cardiff will have to wait over two years until they see any additional traffic wardens.

Joseph Carter, the Welsh Liberal Democrat County Councillor for Cathays, said, "As parking enforcement is still a police responsibility and will remain a police responsibility for another two years, the South Wales Police Authority should fund additional traffic wardens, so that the current parking rules can be enforced."

Notes to Editors

1) At the 19th October 2006 meeting of Cardiff County Council, Cllr. Joseph Carter asked the representative of the South Wales Police Authority to request additional funding for traffic wardens in Cardiff.

2) The enforcement of parking restrictions has been a PACT priority in Cathays since the first meeting in July, but the police lack the traffic wardens to be able to enforce the rules.