NEW WORTHING PARKING ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM

Traffic wardens, who were Sussex Police employees, have been replaced by parking attendants employed under contract to Worthing Borough Council through a new scheme known as Local Authority Parking Enforcement (Lape).

West Sussex County Council and Worthing Borough Council are promising it will mean safer, less congested streets.

They stressed that drivers who parked legally would not notice a change other than easier access to parking spaces.

Congestion caused by illegal parking should be reduced "by a greater level of enforcemen than the police had been able to provide", according to a statement.

It should also ensure that parking bays designed for short-term shopping trips and disabled parking provision are not abused.

Lape will be operated under contract to Worthing Borough Council by staff from National Car Parks (NCP Services).

NCP is expected to provide an average of 21 parking attendants per day across the borough, compared with around 12 traffic wardens that Sussex Police were able to provide. Traffic wardens worked only in the town's Controlled Parking Zone.

The councils also hope that a greater uniformed presence on the streets will act as a deterrent to crime.

For full story see West Sussex Gazette September 12