Home Page Haverhill News

A traffic warden who has issued almost 10,800 tickets in the past 10 years will leave the job next week.

But John Woodgate, who has come under fire in the past for issuing too many tickets in Haverhill's town centre, will be back on the streets again soon - this time as a community support officer.

Inspector Bruce Gent, Haverhill's sector commander, said traffic wardens across the county were being gradually phased out as part of a national trend towards decriminalising parking offences, with local councils employing their own wardens to enforce regulations.

Inspector Gent described Mr Woodgate as a "very efficient" traffic warden, who issued 10,780 tickets during his time in Haverhill. He was pleased the town would retain his services.

He said: "From Haverhill's point of view it is a bonus because it will take the number of support officers up to four. He will receive additional training and have a much broader role. It will mean he can issue fixed penalty tickets for a much wider range of offences and will also be available to patrol hot spots which have suffered anti-social behaviour with other community support officer."

A spokesman for St Edmundsbury Borough Council said it would be considering whether to introduce its own street wardens to enforce parking regulations but there was no immediate plan to do so.

Inspector Gent said while the town would be without a traffic warden, community support officers and patrol officers would deal with parkng problems and do their best to enforce parking restrictions while Mr Woodgate was away completing his training.

"What we would really like to see is someone enforcing the pedestrianisation as it is a complete farce at the moment, particularly in Queens Street.," he said.

"I think it is really important for what we are trying to achieve with the town's Master Plan for it to be enforced."