N mre warnings

DRIVERS caught breaking Ely s new parking rules will pay the price as cuncil wardens launched a tugh crackdwn n Mnday. Twn Centre Rangers have been rdered t start issuing tickets t drivers fluting the timed parking restrictins in the city centr

DRIVERS caught breaking Ely's new parking rules will pay the price as cuncil wardens launched a tugh crackdwn n Mnday.

Twn Centre Rangers have been rdered t start issuing tickets t drivers fluting the timed parking restrictins in the city centre car parks.

Until nw, they have been giving warnings t mtrists parking beynd the maximum stay.

The new parking regime marks a distinct change in the attitude f East Cambridgeshire District Cuncil which has failed t enfrce restrictins in the past.

Residents, wh have taken advantage f the relaxed regulatins t use the lng-stay car parks are nw frced t shunt their cars rund the city r pay the penalty.

Their representatives, Chris Bent and Alisn Rhda-Jnes were due t meet with cuncil fficers yesterday (Wednesday) t discuss the new regime as part f a review prcess.

The meeting was called after residents signed petitins demanding that the cuncil give them equal status t businesses by issuing parking permits.

Mr Bent, f Brad Street, said: "This is a psitive way frward. It is a step in the right directin and I hpe sme srt f sensible apprach is ging t be taken."

David Archer, develpment directr f East Cambridgeshire District Cuncil, and Alisn Callaby, twn centre c-rdinatr, will meet the residents t canvas suggestins and bservatins abut the frmat f the review.

Cuncillr Jhn Seaman, chairman f the cuncil's envirnment and transprt cmmittee, said: "The last thing we want t d is t have t enfrce the car parks in Ely and I sincerely hpe the tickets we issue are as few as pssible.

"We believe we have prduced a system which ensures the city can grw and develp in the future and meets the greater needs f the cmmunity."

Mr Archer said: "The cuncil made the prmise t mnitr the new car parking regulatins thrughut the city in the first few mnths f the changes t see if imprvements were required.

"We als made the cmmitment t engage in a resident study t understand their needs fr parking in the city; the meeting with the residents is part f this prcess. We want t engage with them as early as pssible and explain hw this review will prgress with their help, t.