NEW guidleines for the enforcement of parking restrictions to make it "fairer and consistent" have been announced last week by the Government.

Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander said the move was in response to complaints from drivers.

If the proposals come into force, wheel clamping would be used for only the most persistent offenders and fine evaders.

But persistent offenders would be listed on a nationwide database.

There would more transparency in the rules governing enforcement, with more information for drivers, with local authorities forced to publish their policies and reports on how they were working.

There would be training for everyone involved in parking enforcement, from the wardens on the streets to senior officials in the Civic Centre.

The appeals process would be made fairer.

More powers would be given to independent adjudicators who could intervene when procedures were not been followed properly.

And there would be a regular review of council parking policies in consultation with interested parties.

Mr Alexander said: "We have listened to motorists and it is clear that the current system needs to be improved.

"Taken together, the proposals in this draft guidance will strengthen the system of civil parking enforcement and help local authorities tackle local congestion and keep the traffic moving." .

In Harrow, parking fines boost the council's coffers by £6,3 million a year, but enforcement costs just over £5.9 million.

Councillor Eileen Kinnear, portfolio holder for urban living, said: "Part of our election manifesto was to review parking in Harrow, and if the new guidelines are useful we will use them." Harrow The borough has about 200km of yellow lines, 4,000 parking bays, and 1,700 off-street parking spaces.

There are 11 controlled parking zones, and the council issues 3,000 residents', visitors' and business parking permits a year.

The council traffic wardens issue 80,000 parking tickets a yeat.

Anthony Wood, chairman of Harrow Public Transport Users' association, said: "I think its a smokescreen.

"We have parking regulations for a reason, and they need to be adhered to. We aren't going to get traffic moving with a softly-softly approach.

"We have to keep the roads in Harrow clear for emergency services, if nothing else."

The new policy is expected to come into force in the middle of next year.