PARKING problems in the centre of Stourport was a topic high on the agenda of this month’s Stourport Town Council meeting.

Many town councillors had their say on the issues surrounding illegal parking in High Street, Bridge Street and York Street.

Members debated the unauthorised use of the blue badge scheme for disabled people in the town centre, drivers parking on pavements and double yellow lines, and the lack of parking wardens at peak times.

The issue was debated after Labour councillor Vi Higgs proposed a notice of motion to be passed to Wyre Forest District Council to request more support in reducing the amount of illegal parking in the town centre streets.

Mrs Higgs said: “The number of people caught abusing the blue badge scheme has gone up tremendously, and a large percentage of those people caught have been in Stourport.

“Changes have been made by the district council, but it hasn’t been enough.

“We have enough car parks in the town but they never get used, and why would they when people can just park on the streets.”

Independent Community and Health Concern councillor Jim Parish, said there should be more traffic wardens in place to stop people parking illegally.

“Apparently there are six full-time and two part-time wardens who have to cover the whole of Wyre Forest.

“The number of people parking on the pavements needs to be reduced, and to do this we would need to increase the number of wardens.”

Cllr David Little said the town council could be getting into a political argument with the district council for no reason if the motion was passed.

He said: “I agree that something needs to be done, but until the district council employ more wardens, the motion has no validity.

"If they don’t have the wardens, how can they give more to Stourport.

"Until Wyre Forest District Council employ more wardens then there is nothing more we can do.”