A hit squad of “night marshals” will be deployed in central London this summer to enforce round-the-clock parking restrictions for the Olympics.
The uniformed wardens will patrol the streets from midnight until 8am for the first time in Soho, the West End and Mayfair during the Games. They will have full powers to issue penalty notices of up to £130 and will get hand-held computers and cameras to crack down on drivers breaching new restrictions.
Westminster council, the authority behind the botched plan to introduce night-time parking charges, is hiring the extra team of 32 to enforce special rules for the Olympics such as VIP-only games lanes, suspended parking bays and restricted turns.
Patrols will operate for 100 days from the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations to the end of the Paralympics and will also supervise the increased number of deliveries to business during the night-time.
Opponents fear the council will use 24-hour controls for an unprecedented penalty charge blitz.
Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, leader of the Labour group, believes motorists could face fines for violations such as parking on double yellow lines, residents parking bays and near zebra crossings that go unpunished during the small hours.
He said: “If we find out the council are using the new night-time wardens as a way of making money we will be down on them like a tonne of bricks. It will further damage Westminster’s already tarnished reputation in the West End.”
Tory-run Westminster was forced to drop proposals to introduce weekend and late-night parking charges — branded a “nightlife tax” — after an outcry from businesses and residents led by the Evening Standard. Council leader Colin Barrow resigned shortly after the plan was dropped earlier this year.
Some 26 marshals, aided by six office staff, will be hired by agency Hays Recruitment Services and funded with a £250,000 grant from the Greater London Authority.
The council said marshals are being drafted in to supervise deliveries to businesses such as hotels, restaurants and supermarkets which will take place in the small hours to free-up daytime road during the Games.
SJ POST 