TRAFFIC wardens used to be the scourge of motorists who would leave their cars illegally parked on double yellow lines.

Now town councillors from Evesham and Pershore have called for police action after the four-month absence through illness of a traffic warden in both towns, which has led to an increase in bad or illegal parking, causing traffic queues in the streets.

Enforcement is the responsibility of West Mercia Police but is seen as a lower priority by the force, which could hand over the responsibility for on-street parking to Wychavon District Council under the Government's decriminalised parking initiative.

This gives councils the power to impose fines on illegally or badly parked drivers, which they can keep the revenue from.

Acting inspector for the Wychavon area Paul Crumpton said: "Local authorities are responsible for indicating where they wish parking restrictions to apply.

"The police are consulted but it would seem logical to me that if the district council have the final say in planning matters, surely in terms of enforcement they should benefit from people who contravene these restrictions.

"West Mercia Police is currently looking to increase its force and traffic wardens are no exceptions because the number has dwindled."

He said that the warden responsible for Evesham and Pershore should be back at work shortly but added: "We did introduce a town foot patrol officer and a small part of his role is to look at irresponsible parking matters.

"We would hope that the local community would park their vehicles responsibly with due consideration to other road users."

Head of community services at Wychavon Brian Norfolk said that to take on the responsibility for on-street parking would cost about £250,000 and take about 18 months to implement but it was under consideration.

He said: "There's a gradual movement but that movement has been brought about by the lack of enforcement.

"When we conducted a Best Value survey into off-street parking, one of the things that came up was the lack of enforcement with on-street parking. Councillors were also concerned that there wasn't any sort of enforcement."

He also said that the council has consulted with Herefordshire County Council, which took on the responsibility last year and also Worcester City Council, which is also looking at the possibility.

Across the county boundary Supt Jon Bond of Warwickshire Police believes that Stratford District Council could have its decriminalised parking scheme up and running in the next year.

"It could be about 12 months away. It's part and parcel of a wider debate on the management of traffic in Stratford town centre.

"We want to be able to divert traffic to the nearest and most appropriate car parks and relieve traffic congestion in the town. We have been discussing this with the county council, who will delegate responsibility to the district council.

"There are people that are well capable of dealing with parking, as an issue that doesn't require a full set of police powers."

But Beverley Hemming, press officer for Stratford District Council, said nothing had yet been decided. "Councillors are considering the matter but as yet a report has not gone to committee," she said.

One police force that is not yet considering the transfer of traffic wardens to district council control is Gloucestershire.

Press officer David Avery said: "We are certainly not aware of any plans to decriminalise parking at this time."