CHANGES are to take place to the way parking controls and restrictions are enforced in Stockton.

From Monday, September 5, attendants employed by Stockton Borough Council will take over responsibility from police for both on and off-street parking.

The council is to simplify the present system and a £60 penalty charge will be reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.

Councillor Bob Cook, the council's cabinet member for development and regeneration, said: "This is important news for Stockton because, although many people don't like parking tickets, even more find unauthorised parking both annoying and inconvenient.

"Parking controls on our streets are there to help traffic flow smoothly and to improve road safety.

"We are taking this matter seriously and providing appropriate levels of patrolling so that people will respect yellow lines and appreciate why they are there."

The council has adopted an enforcement strategy which sets out priorities as maintaining the safety and free flow of traffic, ensuring the safety of children and parents around school entrances and controlling resident parking schemes.

A parking shop at Gloucester House, in Stockton's Church Road, offers information about car parks in the borough, sells parking season tickets and administers applications for blue badges for disabled use.

It also accepts payments of fines for off-road parking offences and will accept payments of fines for on-street parking offences when the council assumes control from the police.