The town that actually wants traffic wardens after just two tickets are issued in three years

It may be the only place in Britain where more traffic wardens are wanted.

People in Forres in the north of Scotland say drivers are breaking the law and getting away with it after it emerged just two parking tickets have been issued in the last three years.

The town has had no traffic wardens since 2013 when Moray Council slashed the roles to cut costs.

Since then Police Scotland has had responsibility for tackling illegal on-street parking.

Officers have the power to fine drivers £100 for pavement parking, double parking, or blocking dropped kerbs, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.

But in the years since the handover, Forres locals have reported widespread illegal parking in the town centre and want action to tackle the problem.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request has now revealed that just two fines were handed out in the three years from January 2023.

Both of these were issued on Forres’ High Street in 2025 – with no illegally-parked drivers fined in 2023 or 2024.

Moray Council leader Councillor Kathleen Robertson said she understands the frustration felt by local residents and businesses.

‘Illegal parking creates unnecessary safety issues and impacts the flow of our town centre,’ she said.

‘While I appreciate the pressures facing Police Scotland regarding resources, individuals must also be more considerate by parking safely and legally.

‘We are fortunate to have abundant free parking only a short distance from the High Street. It’s important people make use of it to keep the town centre accessible and safe.’

Inspector Neil Morrison, from Moray police, suggested low staffing levels and prioritising more significant crimes were to blame for the low figures.

He added that ‘keeping people safe across Moray is our priority’.

‘Financial constraints and significant increase in demand requires us to make hard choices,’ he said. ‘We ensure our focus and resources are aligned and committed to national and divisional priorities.

‘Enforcement will be carried out in problematic areas and, while we have no capacity to provide daily dedicated patrols, officers will respond to incidents and issue tickets as appropriate.’

Insp Morrison also called for people to park responsibly in Forres. ‘Please consider the needs of your community and other road users,” he said. “It is important to take personal responsibility when parking.’

His explanation is not enough for some local politicians.

Councillor Draeyk van der Horn said: ‘I understand that Police Scotland have to prioritise limited resources, but issuing only two parking tickets in five years suggests illegal parking is effectively going unenforced in Forres town centre.

‘It can cause accidents, reduce visibility and contribute to congestion.

‘People shouldn’t need enforcement to act responsibly, but consistent lack of enforcement can normalise poor behaviour.

‘I would like to see data on where and when issues occur and a review of whether signage is fit for purpose. Involving the local authority more in routine enforcement could also help relieve pressure on police while improving consistency.’

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