From next week wardens will be back on the streets as Nottinghamshire County Council, along with the district councils, take over the role that was the responsibility of the police.

New-style civil parking enforcement officers will be handing out penalty charge notices for illegal on-street parking and in council car parks.

And not a moment too soon, many people will say.

The number of inconsiderate, selfish, bone idle and just plain stupid drivers flouting the law has reached unacceptable proportions.

Indiscriminate parking is always dangerous, often potentially life-threatening, to both pedestrians and other road users.

Perhaps the prospect of £50/£70 fines will make offenders think twice in future.

No doubt that's what the powers- that-be will be hoping.

Taking such tough action does, however, put the onus on the authorities to ensure that there is adequate parking provision at prices people can afford. At the moment it could be argued that that this is a major issue.

And without drastic improvements in public transport, people's preference for their cars is unlikely to change - no matter how much the fuel costs.