The number of ParkRight traffic wardens in Shropshire could be halved by as early as January, it emerged today.

The county council cabinet this week backed recommendations suggesting the number should be cut from 28 to 14, and for those that remain to be more lenient to motorists.

The recommendations, which would lead to some redeployment or redundancies, will go to the Implementation Executive on December 3, and if approved would take effect in January – three months before the county’s unitary authority is introduced.

Today Phil Crossland, the council’s assistant director for strategic highways and transportation, said there were 23 posts filled.

He said: “The recommendations include reducing the number of attendants to 14 and having a more flexible customer focused approach and the county council have agreed that should be recommended to the Impleme- ntation Executive for when it meets on December 3.

“They will decide whether it’s a policy they want to adopt for Shropshire Council. If they do, cabinet have agreed this week that we should do it from January. 

“The reduction in the number of wardens would happen almost immediately.

“ParkRight as a service is likely to continue until April 1, at which time all services become part of Shropshire Council.

“It will then be a Shropshire Council function. Whether it’s carried on with a ParkRight logo or not is a question that is still being considered but we will have to change uniforms from April 1.”

He said the rebranding would not take place “just for the sake of it” but would be needed because it would be Shropshire Council that would then oversee the service.

ParkRight, which operates in towns across the county, has been criticised by residents, with a consultation revealing just 28.4 per cent of people were satisfied with the service. 

More than double that – 60 per cent – were dissatisfied.

A report to members of the joint parking advisory group, which was similar to the report considered by the county council’s cabinet, proposed a new approach that could be adopted by Shropshire Council which included the reduced staffing numbers.