ANPR could create 'heat-maps' of parking breaches

COUNCIL CONSIDERING PILOT SCHEME

- BY RICHARD EVANS Local Democracy Reporter

DENBIGHSHIRE County Council is considering using Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras to create “heat maps of noncompliance” in its car parks before increasing targeted traffic warden patrols.

Councillors provisionally agreed plans this month to expand parking enforcement across the county, with two additional officers set to be recruited to improve coverage and “compliance”.

The decision was backed by the council’s Communities Scrutiny Committee at its March meeting at the authority's Ruthin County Hall HQ.

Members heard the authority currently employs five full-time Civil Enforcement Officers to patrol the entire county on a weekly rota, with one senior post vacant.

But a recent restructure means the parking enforcement team has moved into the Traffic and Transportation section and is now overseen by a Parking and CCTV Manager.

As part of the restructure, two new Civil Enforcement Officer positions have been created, boosting the numbers to seven.