Why traffic wardens are still out on the streets in Northampton town centre

County Council chiefs have hit back at criticisms over keeping traffic wardens out on Northamptonshire streets during the coronavirus lockdown.

On-street pay and display charges have been stopped and many parking restrictions lifted since Prime Minster Boris Johnson ordered the nation to stay at home last week.

Social media users have piled in asking if traffic wardens should be classed as "key workers" under the new laws.

But Cllr Jason Smithers, Northamptonshire's cabinet member for environment and place, said: “Our enforcement teams are focusing on parking issues that cause obstruction or safety concerns. This is to support key workers while they go about their essential duties.

“Officers have an important role to play during the current situation, they help to maintain road safety and ensure access to goods and services.

“Motorists are reminded that they should not park dangerously or cause an obstruction including blocking a dropped kerb, on zig-zags at crossings, in loading restrictions and on yellow lines protecting junctions.

"It is vital that we maintain traffic flow and focus on safety and access for emergency and essential services.”

The County Council are issuing key workers and those who are helping our elderly and vulnerable with dashboard notices to identify their vehicles while traffic wardens are following social distancing restrictions while on the streets.

Service provider NSL carries out enforcement for the County Council across Northamptonshire, except in Kettering which is looked after by the local borough council.

Cllr Smithers added: "With more people now at home across the county, there are more vehicles parked in residential areas.

"This will bring its challenges with people parking dangerously, and where this is the case, parking attendants will try to locate the owner of the vehicle and request they park safely in an alternative location.

"As with normal service, parking attendants will give advice and information to people where necessary to help them find a safe place to park, and will only be issuing a Penalty Charge Notice when it is absolutely necessary."

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper when you do your weekly shop.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you.