Bexhill's traffic wardens gone for good?

Like most public sector organisations, the authority faces a tough year of cuts as the government tries to stabilise the country's economy.

Due to "significantly lower funding" in Sussex Police's 2010/11 budget, a new proposal seeks to turn parking responsibilities over to Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

This move has already taken place across East Sussex, with Rother being the last district to use separate traffic wardens.

Chief Inspector Heather Keating, Rother District Commander, said: "We have benefited from an uplift in Neighbourhood Policing Teams recently and it is timely to review the way in which we police parking in the future to ensure best use of our resources.

"Rother is the only district in East Sussex which currently employs traffic wardens.

"A proposal that Neighbourhood Policing Teams will take on this responsibility, as they do across the rest of East Sussex, has been made to chief officers and will be considered as part of the Force's five-year financial forecast.

"We are confident that we can maintain an effective service, which will be part of our work in neighbourhoods as it is across the rest of East Sussex."

Originally, three wardens policed the district. Battle's warden retired in autumn 2008, leaving Robin Warner and Sharon King, of Rye and Bexhill respectively, to share Battle, notorious for its crowded High Street.

But Bexhill's town centre is also prone to jams. Lack of a dedicated officer may raise concerns over the enforcement of the two-hour stay rule governing parts of the seafront as well as the centre.

The plans were announced at the recent Sussex Police Authority meeting, and are subject to a formal consultation.

Chief Inspector Keating added: "Any budget reduction will be carefully managed to ensure we balance the needs of our communities with an obligation to make savings.

"The Force's intention is to make any proposed pay savings through normal staff turnover wherever possible, rather than redundancy."

Are you worried about town centre congestion if our remaining traffic warden is scrapped? Please leave your comments below.