Night traffic patrols criticised

Traffic wardens issued 138 tickets in a late-night parking crackdown

Drivers should have had advance warning about a late-night parking crackdown in Kent, a motoring group has said.

Traffic wardens handed out 138 parking tickets during the one-off operation in Tunbridge Wells to crack down on dangerous and illegal parking.

Tunbridge Wells council said the safety-led crackdown, which took place over two nights on 30 and 31 October, was requested by residents and police.

The AA said it would have been better to warn motorists first.

AA spokesman Paul Watters said: "You do have the opportunity to put warnings on cars.

"If this is a blitz - a sudden blitz - that hits people hard.

Clearly they need a lesson, but perhaps not such a harsh one Paul Watters

"It's better to tell them it's coming than it is just to slap tickets on."

He said if councils wanted to change parking behaviour it was better to work with people to help them understand the dangers.

He added: "Clearly they need a lesson, but perhaps not such a harsh one."

Council spokesman Roy Bullock said: "A lot of space becomes available from six o' clock until eight o' clock in the morning.

"But it is not acceptable for people to be parking in a dangerous manner and actually inhibiting safe access into our streets - for example on corners or on the access to pedestrian crossings."

He added: "We do not have permanent night-time traffic wardens.

"It was just an exercise that we carried out in conjunction with the police and in response to some of our residents' requests, because some of the people were parking in residents-only parking areas and that's not acceptable either."