A COUNCIL is preparing to quit a controversial parking warden scheme after saying it is sick of dealing with complaints over "heavy handed" ticketing tactics.

Hyndburn Council has told Parkwise bosses to remove the borough's logo from its tickets and literature in protest at the way the scheme is run.

And it has ordered its own officers to look at the possibility of setting up a separate parking warden scheme to monitor its three Accrington car parks in Abbey Street and Crawshaw Street and close to the station.

Parkwise is a parking enforcement partnership between Lancashire County Council and the county's district and borough councils.

Its NCP management team for Hyndburn would continue to oversee the issuing of tickets on the borough's streets after the proposed breakaway because the county council has responsibility for highways.

Drivers in Accrington town centre have been hit with £30 fines for incorrectly displaying disabled badges, exceeding parking restrictions by minutes and closing vehicle doors while unloading goods.

Hyndburn Council leader Coun Peter Britcliffe said: "I have been contacted by many residents complaining about fines, particularly disabled drivers who have put their badges upside down and got a ticket.

"It seems very unfair. It is heavy handed and over eager.

"People who get a ticket for being two minutes late back to a short-stay bay assume the fine has come from Hyndburn and that is not the case.

"I have had numerous people coming to me, often quite angry, thinking that Hyndburn Council has fined them.

"The use of our logo on their literature, therefore, concerns me and I have asked for it to be removed.

"I also believe that we would be capable of setting up our own system.

"I think the time has come for us to part ways."

Accrington resident Andrew Bridge, who got a Parkwise ticket in January while banking charity money in Haslingden, backed the council's plans. Mr Bridge, of Balmoral Road, said: "Before the current arrangement parking attendants applied common sense.

"They would uphold the law but they would also give a driver a bit of leeway.

"Now it is all about targets and making money."

Coun Colette McCormack was fined after closing her car doors as she unloaded goods outside her Warner Street business.

She said: "I was told it looked like I was parked rather than unloading.

"Parking attendants should operate with more discretion."

A spokesperson for Parkwise said: "We believe the scheme is running well in Hyndburn.

"The council has been signed up since Parkwise was launched and can opt out of the partnership if it wants to.

"We are aware that the council is writing to us and if it has any issues it wants to raise we will discuss them."