Councils moves slammed

Euro-MP Paul Nuttall

Moves by local authorities to be able to fine motorists for traffic offences have come under fire from local MEP Paul Nuttall.

"The government promised to end the war on motorists when it came to power but that pledge has gone the way of so many of their others," said Mr Nuttall, UKIP Euro-MP.

"We all know that councils already use motorists as a cash cow raking in tens of thousands of pounds in parking fines. Now the Local Government Association has lobbied for authorities to have the same powers as those in London to fine drivers for other offences."

It is understood that the Department of Transport has been in discussions with some councils about this including Manchester, Salford and Liverpool. The proposed offences such as making illegal turns, encroaching on yellow boxes and using cycle lanes, will be spotted using CCTV.

"Such a snapshot is unlikely to show the wider situation which may have led to the so-called offence. There are plenty of junctions with badly timed traffic lights or bad design which could actually be the real culprit," said Mr Nuttall.

"I know local authorities are cash-strapped but so are many motorists and instead of picking on them council bosses should be putting their own house in order.

"But I fear they will be rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of an easy earner caning drivers rather than weeding out dead wood within their own organisations," he added.