Police are powerless to stop parking on the Market Place but woe betide those who park elsewhere

ASTONISHING that Cambridgeshire Police have been handing out parking tickets willy nilly to offending motorists in and around Wisbech Market Place but have not the powers to tackle those who offend the most.

Simply because the Market Place is in the ownership of Fenland District Council it means police are powerless to enforce parking regulations there.

Of course this will all change, one way or the other, once the current debate over the future of the Market Place is determined but until then, what?

Are we to witness the continued absurdity of hundreds of motorists (yes, hundreds since in October alone police issued over 200 parking tickets to those parked illegally in surrounding streets) being booked in some parts of town but allowed to get away scot free in others?

The statement from Cambs Police, issued through their E cops newsletter, certainly seems to point that way and we believe it is a nonsense that must be tackled sooner rather than later.

With the controversy currently going on over the proposed move from the Horsefair of the taxi rank (too many taxis, so why not have a smaller rank there and another elsewhere was one town councillor's helpful suggestion this week) and motorists complaining of pot holes in car parks and unfair tariffs at the Horsefair car park, you would think Wisbech had enough parking issues already.

Apart from putting up signs or maybe even an honesty box for motorists parking on the Market Place (with proceeds to charity) we can't think of any short term solution to this predicament.

And with some town councillors still intent on arguing their case for the Market Place to be returned to them - and not allowed to stay in the district council's ownership- we hardly dare predict a resolution soon.