Traffic wardens swamp town centre

Two extra wardens, one full time and one part time, have been moved to the town following the decriminalisation of parking in Eastbourne.

Sussex Police have redeployed the wardens to Rother while they serve their notice period.

At times, this could treble the number of wardens in the town - presently Bexhill employs just one traffic warden. The extra wardens will continue to patrol in Bexhill and Rother until November 16, when they are made redundant. Rother councillor and Bexhill resident Stuart Wood, told the Observer: "It seems like a waste of time. They can't possibly get to know the area in that time, so they won't be doing a lot.

"And of course, it is the tax payer who will be paying for this. Meanwhile in Eastbourne I'm told it is chaos at the moment.

"It seems the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing. And I can't think the poor traffic wardens are going to be interested in doing a lot here if they are going to be losing their jobs."

The traffic warden approached by the Observer declined to comment publicly on the situation.

Inspector Martin Mann, of Bexhill Police, said the wardens had to be moved over to Bexhill and Rother as it is one of the few surrounding districts still to have police employed traffic wardens, 'following the decriminalisation of parking within Hastings and St Leonards, Lewes and now Eastbourne.'

Parking in Eastbourne is effectively unpoliced at present due to a dispute between Eastbourne Borough Council and East Sussex County Council.

Plans for meters to be controlled by private firms on behalf of county have been put on hold due to a legal challenge from the borough council.