TIGHTER parking controls are on their way to Kennet. Decriminalised parking enforcement is to be introduced in September 2006. The change means that parking will be enforced by the district council rather than the police.

Kennet District Council has signed up to a scheme being put together by Wiltshire County Council that could see motorists being charged up to £3.20 a day to park on streets that are currently free.

The county council said the Department for Transport has made it clear that it could compel councils to apply for decriminalised parking powers.

County council officers are looking at what streets in Kennet could be part of the decriminalised scheme.

Consultants have advised Kennet that it will have to more than double the number of parking tickets it issues to almost 10,000 for it to make a profit on decriminalised parking.

The consultants have assumed that motorists would be charged 20p for half an hour's stay although costs have not been decided.

George Batten, the county council's highways chief, said: "Enforcement at a local level will result in greater compliance with existing controls and will ensure that the effectiveness of integrated transport schemes designed to reduce reliance on the private car are not undermined by illegal parking activities."

His colleague Andrew Wyatt also said that with the introduction of decriminalised parking, residents' permit schemes would be considered.