Anger over parking campaign

Shoppers failing to park perfectly within bays in a Black Country town have been fined in a "heavy-handed" crackdown which has prompted a string of complaints.

Traders and customers have complained about the actions of traffic wardens at the car park in Wolverhampton Street, Willenhall, which is near the market, and is one of the busiest parking areas in the town.

Now Walsall Council's wardens are handing out fines of up to £50 to shoppers who park their cars on the white lines.

Chairman of Willenhall Market Association Bob King, of Kings fruit and vegetable stall, said: "We get about three customers a week moaning that they've returned to their cars to find a parking ticket for £35 stuck to the windscreen for just edging on to the white lines in the parking bay.

"We have had meetings with the council about this, but they keep saying the enforcement officers are just doing their job."

Willenhall South representative Councillor Sean Coughlan said: "The last thing we need is for heavy-handed enforcement officers to drive shoppers away."

The council raised £553,000 in parking fines in 10 months after taking over enforcement from West Midlands Police last April.

Almost 14,500 parking tickets were issued by last October, nearly triple the number handed out in an entire year by police.

Walsall Council was unavailable for comment today.