THE man in charge of Swindon's parking attendants has welcomed plans to rein in zealous council wardens who have been infuriating motorists with their devotion to ticketing.

The Government has agreed to introduce strict national guidelines to prevent wardens abusing their powers.

Tony Foss, Swindon Council's group officer for parking services, said: "I support the principle of making the rules statutory.

"I do not believe that my parking attendants are over-zealous. They are very professional and I would have no fears whatsoever.

"Nationally there has been justifiable criticism of parking attendants, but from a Swindon perspective I have tried to set very high standards and ensure we learn from the mistakes other people have made."

Mr Foss admitted Swindon attendants make mistakes from time to time, but said there was an appeals system to deal with those cases. The behaviour of council wardens is currently regulated by a civil code of conduct, and, in Swindon, attendants are provided with a handbook listing the things they must check before issuing a penalty notice.

For example, it states that before issuing a ticket on a vehicle parked on a double yellow line the attendant must first ascertain whether the driver is loading or unloading.

"We do not issue a ticket immediately on spotting a vehicle it takes at least five minutes," said Mr Foss. "Anyone who says, 'I only just stopped and got a notice' well that wouldn't be the case."

Now Government Roads Minister David Jamieson has vowed to amend the Traffic Management Bill, currently before Parliament, to bring such codes within the realm of the law.

Speaking in the House of Commons last week, Mr Jamieson said: "After careful consideration I have concluded that there is merit in putting civil enforcement guidance on a statutory basis.

"It would give the guidance greater force and make authorities more mindful of its content when carrying out enforcement activities."

The Advertiser reported last week that a 10-wheel resurfacing vehicle, hired by Swindon Council, was given a £60 parking ticket by the council's own parking attendants. The ticket was just one of about 2,400 handed out by the council's 20 parking attendants each month.

Before September 1 last year, the police had responsibility for patrolling the town's double yellow lines.

But in the six months since parking enforcement was decriminalised, the council's wardens have issued 14,000 tickets, generating nearly £300,000 in revenue for the council.

Andy Tate