Bank Holiday parking Picture Ref: 77209-278A MOTORING organisation has warned drivers to take care to avoid getting a parking ticket this Bank Holiday Monday.

In some boroughs parking on holidays is free, but many, including Swindon, charge.

Paul Watters, head of roads policy for motoring organisation the AA, said: "There is confusion across Britain on bank holidays because people think parking is free.

"Local authorities are allowed to do what they want on this issue, but we think there should be uniformity.

"Yellow lines are another part of this problem because, unlike a car park, they don't have big information signs. Often you have to rely on what a controlled zone entry sign might say, or what the time-plates say."

Time-plates are the small signs giving information about what a yellow line means.

Mr Watters said: "It's a dog's breakfast. But in a car park, if in doubt pay.

"On a yellow line, if in doubt don't park.

"Local authority parking attendants are out and about, and use the opportunity of a bank holiday to increase their ticket issue rate." A spokesman for Swindon Council said: "To allow as many staff as possible to take advantage of the Bank Holiday we usually have a reduced number of attendants patrolling Swindon.

"There is no dramatic increase in the number of tickets issued on bank holidays. If anything, slightly less than average are given out."

Swindon Council took over responsibility for issuing parking tickets in September 2003.

In the first year of operation they issued 29,199 penalty charge notices.

The council spokesman said: "The general feeling is that drivers are now parking more sensibly, and within the law, to avoid receiving a penalty charge notice.

"Streets like Commercial Road, which is being enforced daily, are safer than before decriminalisation.

"In this first year we have received lots of positive feedback.

"For example, emergency vehicles can gain access to areas where it was difficult or impossible previously, and buses running to better time due to pinch points being enforced."

The parking charge in Swindon for bank holidays and Sundays is 90p for up to two hours, and £1.80 for over two hours.

Dave Andrew