Between October last year and this month, 5,376 parking tickets were issued across the borough by wardens employed by West Midlands Police.

But parking enforcement is set to change hands in 2008 when Walsall Council takes over and the authority has already warned of a big crackdown.

Around 15,000 tickets could be issued to motorists who park illegally in the first year of the authority’s planned blitz and 41,000 in year four.

The estimated year one figure amounts to wardens dishing out 41 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) a day, rising to an average of 112 tickets every 24 hours in 2011. This is compared to 14 a day in the last 12 months.

A report to councillors states: “Clearly, the number of PCNs can have a significant impact on financial viability.”

The amount culprits will be fined has not yet been decided.

Council spokesman Tony Moran said Walsall would ask neighbouring authorities what they charge and could come up with a standard fee.

Currently, eight traffic wardens, employed by the police, patrol Walsall to catch out motorists who have parked on double yellow lines or for too long on car parks.

Under the new plan, multi-functional wardens, dealing with litter, dog fouling, vandalism and graffiti, will also turn their hands to taking action against motorists.

The council would focus first on Walsall town centre but could roll out the scheme to Bloxwich, Willenhall, Darlaston, Brownhills and Aldridge, in time.

The report adds: “It is anticipated that operational costs would be offset by significant levels of income from PCNs.”

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