Moray Council will write to the Scottish Government seeking clarity over what funding might be available to assist in their taking on board the Traffic Warden service.
The move came after Police Scotland withdrew the service, leading to Moray’s two remaining traffic wardens taking early retirement in November.
It has now emerged that as a result there may be no traffic warden coverage in Moray for at least 18 months, as it would take that long for the required application to the Scottish Government for ‘decriminalised parking’ to be completed.
When the situation was discussed at the Council’s economic development and infrastructure committee on Tuesday, it was suggested through a report by the head of development services that the local authority wait until the conclusion of consultations with Police Scotland were completed before any action was taken.
However, Fochabers/Lhanbryde councillor Douglas Ross said that the authority should write immediately to the Scottish Government on the issue, with councillors unsure if running the service would be viable.
Councillor Ross said: “I don’t want this to be either a loss-making venture for the council, neither do I want it to be a cash cow.”
The committee agreed that Councillor John Cowe would write to the Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, seeking information on support that will be available to local authorities.
Throughout Moray just 630 parking tickets are issued each year.