THE responsibility for parking enforcement will fall on local authorities come September. And what a large responsibility it is.

Previously, traffic wardens employed by the police have been the ones to keep a check on illegal parking. They may not always have been popular, but they performed an important role in keeping traffic flowing and making sure irresponsible motorists did not block streets and cause traffic jams.

But there have been concerns raised that when our councils take over traffic enforcement, they will use them in a slightly different role - not to keep traffic disruption to a minimum, but to generate cash.

We have today been told charges for outstaying your welcome at a car park are set to double from £30 to £60. In addition we could see a lot more council-employed, ever-vigilant wardens patrolling our streets. Our local authorities have to tread very carefully over this issue in the coming months. If they are seen to go over the top when it comes to parking enforcement, plenty of criticism will follow.

In other areas of the country where parking has already been decriminalised, a charge regularly thrown at council bosses is that they are purely and simply targeting motorists just to raise cash. In those areas, traffic wardens are regarded much the same as speed cameras are by many drivers here - that they are just a "stealth tax" on drivers.

It is right that people who abuse parking regulations are punished and the councils will need to keep on top of irresponsible motorists. But, when the time comes, they must be seen to be acting fairly and not become over-zealous.