COUNCILS in East Lancashire have turned down a proposal for cash bonuses for parking wardens who minimise the number of incorrect parking tickets being issued.

The proposal is one of several, under new national guidelines overseen by the British Parking Association, which look set to result in more lenient parking attendants.

Other suggestions in the 'model contract' - drawn up by a working group of local councils and parking companies country-wide in an attempt to create a national template for best practice - include wardens being encouraged to have more discretion with drivers who stop briefly on double yellow lines or overstay on meters.

But both Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council say they already work to very similar guidelines - with the exception of giving bonuses.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "It would seem that our contract with NCP is very close to what is being proposed for their 'model contracts'.

"We don't issue bonuses for people simply doing their job correctly."

And a spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: "We are not looking into issuing bonuses for minimising the number of incorrect tickets."

Peter Hunt, Director of Direct Services, added: "We have considered the recent guidelines but believe that our staff have been thoroughly trained already and as such continue to work to the standards set by the council."

The news comes only weeks after Lancashire County Council's NCP wardens issued a £60 penalty to a milk float on deliveries. And on Saturday a police car was booked while investigating a crime - both were in East Lancashire.

Kevin Reynolds, technical director of The British Parking Association, said: "Attendants who follow the guidelines will have much more scope to use discretion to reduce the number of drivers who feel they have been unfairly treated."

Bob Macnaughton, Chief Executive of NCP admitted that the industry had alienated drivers.

He said: "We realise that people distrust the system and need more confidence that we are being fair."

The British Parking Association added they were also looking into introducing a national parking attendant qualification at NVQ level for those joining the industry.