Parking management talks ensure continuity of enforcement

The Highland Council is continuing discussions with Police Scotland to ensure continuity of parking management and enforcement in the Highlands following the full withdrawal of the Highland traffic warden service from 3 February next year.

Council Leader, Drew Hendry, assured members of the Council at its meeting in Inverness on Thursday that responsibility for enforcement of parking offences post 3 February would lie with Police Scotland, who have given the Council assurances that police officers will respond to parking incidents and take the appropriate action.

This responsibility would continue to rest with Police Scotland until the Council has introduced a Decriminalised Parking Enforcement scheme, Looking further ahead, the Council will be focusing on the introduction of a Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) scheme, which gives the Council responsibility for parking controls.

Councillor Hendry said:  “We are involved in discussions at the highest level with Police Scotland to ensure that parking continues to be managed in our larger communities during the period between the end of the traffic warden service and the introduction of the Council’s enforcement service.

“I have received assurances that the police will enforce the law where a parking offence is committed. For our part, we will continue to examine the funding and most cost effective delivery of a future parking management service.”

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