Town to tackle 'zealous' wardens

Warden patrols were stepped up in October

Parking restrictions could be lifted in a Shropshire town after complaints about "over zealous" wardens.

Councillor Ann Hartley said some Parkright attendants in Ellesmere were not using common sense and trade has been affected as result.

The council has been asked to trial a scheme allowing parking everywhere apart from on double yellow lines.

But ParkRight, which enforces parking rules, says such a move would lead to chaos and congestion.

The town's Chamber of Commerce has approached the council to ease the laws after traders complained their businesses are being affected.

Last month, patrols in the county were stepped up in a crackdown on illegal parking.

'Complete overhaul'

There are now about 28 attendants to cover most towns.

Earlier this month, shopkeeper Lee McArthur, who said he had to park on double yellow lines to unload his van, branded the wardens "over-zealous".

Mr McArthur, who owns Eden Veg, said he had been given two parking tickets and appealed against the first but failed.

Another shopkeeper said some customers had been given parking tickets while they were loading goods into their cars.

Councillor Hartley told BBC News the restrictions could be lifted by 1 December followed by a "complete overhaul" of parking arrangements.

But, Sean Sutton, a senior warden with ParkRight, said that removing the restrictions would lead to "chaos".

He said there also are more cars on the roads and more people visiting the town, adding to congestion.

ParkRight, a partnership of local councils, took over parking enforcement from police in November 2006.