SEETHING motorists have unleashed an avalanche of protests against traffic wardens in the wake of last week's exclusive Globe story on parking fines.

Motorists have been asked to cough up £1.2m in penalties since Wirral council took over operations from Merseyside Police last year.

We asked YOU what you thought of the new regime and the response has been overwhelming.

Hundreds of Wirral Globe readers have called our offices to register their protests over the massive amount of money raised by the peninsula's traffic wardens.

We were even called by the fleet manager of a Wirral-based breakdown recovery service who told us that he had been given two tickets while picking up broken down cars from the side of the road!

The vast majority of readers said that traffic wardens were pernickety, over-zealous and imposing just another tax on motorists.

The complaints ranged from the outraged to the absurd.

Andy Morrison, fleet manager for A1 Breakdown Recovery, said: "I've been given two in Wirral in the last few months. The first one was in Heswall. I'd got out of the truck to sort out a car that was broken down and while I wasn't looking the warden put a ticket on it. The second one was a similar situation in Birkenhead.

"Because of the time it takes to complain I just paid them. It's gone bananas."

Robert Shaw, 72, from Greasby, said: "I have a disabled sticker and use it to park.

"Recently I went to the One Stop Shop in West Kirby to change my old one for a new one but by the time I had got back to my car they had given me a ticket. How ridiculous can you get?"

Peter Lang, a 33-year-old civil servant from Upton, said: "My brother was given a ticket a year ago in the car park by Europa Pools. They gave him the ticket at 2.45pm when the pay-and-display ticket my brother had bought didn't even run out until 3pm.

"When he saw it he ripped it off and took it into Europa pools and showed it to a group of people who said they'd be witnesses.

"Eventually the council cancelled it but what the hell were they thinking of issuing it in the first place?"

John Parkinson, a 49-year-old carpenter from Meols, said: "I live on Meols Parade and since the council took over parking it's been outrageous - I've had three tickets in two months.

Charity workers

"When Hoylake lifeboat day was on there obviously weren't enough spaces available but the wardens made no exceptions. They issued tickets to people who were out trying to support a charity.

"It seems to me that they're penalising us because we are in a nice area. We refused to pay but now they are asking for £180 - it's money for old rope."

Michael Swiffen, a 61-year-old former traffic warden, said: "I used to be a car park attendant and the amount of abuse you get is terrible.

!I once had a policeman who was up from London threaten to do me in, he even said he'd bring his mates up to do it.

"I think people unduly parked should get a ticket but having said that I have been unfairly done under the new regime.

"I was in a shop picking something up for less than five minutes.

"When I was doing the job I always gave between 15-20 minutes, five minutes is not enough.

"These new wardens are far too over-zealous."

Sue West, 46, from Woodchurch, said: "I'm a disabled driver and live on a busy road. I've been given tickets even though I've had a disabled badge in the car.

"Now I've been told that I have to leave it there all the time to avoid getting a ticket. But that's just inviting people to break into the car because I'm hardly going to run after them, am I?"

Elfed Morgan, a 61-year-old part time nurse from Bebington, said: "I think it is a good thing. I have just seen a man arguing with a traffic warden but he was blatantly parked on a yellow line.

"When people park on yellow lines it impedes the elderly and disabled. I take my mother-in-law shopping and we have to park on those lines."

David Emmas, 62, from Oxton, said: "If people park illegally and get a fine then it is their problem.

"I think a lot of people cause obstructions and don't get in trouble for it. I'm a pensioner and if I parked illegally I'd expect to get fined for it."

Wendy Edwards, a 47-year-old NHS worker from Liscard, said: "For a prime example my husband came home last night and he was given a parking ticket despite having a reference number for residents only parking.

"It's the fourth time in six months that it has happened and the traffic wardens are aware of it.

"They get cancelled, but it's a lot of hassle."