AN appeal for traffic wardens in Tenbury to turn a blind eye when ‘civil enforcement’ begins in November appears to have fallen upon deaf ears.

This means that traffic wardens working for Malvern Hills District Council (MHDC) will have the power to issue tickets for street parking, with Worcestershire County Council determining where restrictions will be applied.

As a consequence, parking restrictions that have not been enforced for more than a decade will begin, and this is the reason why the painting of yellow lines has been taking place throughout the town.

But Tenbury Town Council is concerned this will have a major impact for people living in part of the town leaving them with nowhere to park their cars.

The town council has made an appeal for the restrictions not to be applied in Cross Street.

“It is a residential road and not part of the commercial centre of the town,” said George Price, mayor of Tenbury.

Even if an appeal is successful it is unlikely to happen before civil enforcement starts.

“We hope that MHDC will show leniency until the matter is resolved,” said Coun Price.

“If people cannot park in Cross Street I do not know what they will do with their cars other than leave them in other parts of the town.”

The story has another twist because cars are constantly parked in Cross Street, and so it has not been possible for the council to paint the yellow lines and therefore tickets issued could be subject to challenge.

WCC is adamant the restrictions in Cross Street apply and will be enforced.

A council statement read: "The yellow lines parking restrictions on Cross Road have been in place for many years.

“There has recently been a changeover of enforcement responsibility from the police to the MHDC, who will be employing traffic wardens to enforce the restrictions set by WCC.

"The new enforcement will be starting in the middle of November, and there will be a discretionary period." MHDC has ruled out any leniency other than a two week transition period.

“From November 12 MHDC will be responsible for the enforcement of onstreet parking restrictions across the district on behalf of WCC,” said Gordon Morris, street scene team manager for MHDC.

“This includes enforcing any parking restrictions on Tenbury Cross Street. The parking restrictions are set by WCC and any residents wishing to make a representation about Cross Street in Tenbury should contact their local county councillor who can talk to the Highway Authority (WCC) on their behalf.

“MHDC would like to remind residents in Tenbury to check parking restrictions carefully because the district council will be enforcing these restrictions across the district.

For the first two weeks only warning notices will be issued to anybody contravening the on-street parking regulations.”

Ken Pollock who represents Tenbury on WCC, said: “I hope that when the enforcement starts some common sense and flexibility can be applied.”