MOTORISTS face more fines when a private firm starts blitzing streets and car parks in the Moorlands.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, which has struggled to retain its six-strong team of traffic wardens, is to contract the service out in the summer.

The move has sparked fears the enforcement drive, which includes clamping and removal of illegally-parked vehicles, could drive people away from Leek, Cheadle and Biddulph.

A total of 1,912 tickets were issued from October to December last year, up on the 1,457 tickets issued in the first quarter of the year and the 1,339 handed out in the second.

But a senior councillor has conceded the figure is set to rise following the introduction of the private warden service, although Councillor Stephen Ellis, portfolio holder for planning and development, pictured left, denied it was a money-making exercise.

He pledged any surplus income generated by the outsourced service would be used to improve the district's highways and parking.

He said the civil parking enforcement service had already helped pedestrians, motorists, the emergency services and town centre economies by clamping down on irresponsible parking.

However, he said: "Difficulty in recruiting and retaining staff has led to operating losses the taxpayer cannot be expected to sustain.

"That is why we are intending to outsource to a firm with expertise and experience in parking enforcement.

"The company will improve service levels by devoting more resources to enforcement than we ever could."

Mr Ellis stressed there has never been a target set for the number of tickets issued and there never would be.

But he said: "The scheme will bring in more money, because there will be six officers out there on a continual basis."

Families in residential streets, who are repeatedly targeted for parking in restricted areas outside their own homes, fear they will get even more tickets under the new regime.

Businessman Anthony Beetham, of Ford Street, Leek, has racked up a bill for £1,500 in parking fines issued outside his home since the council took over responsibility for parking enforcement from the police in 2007.

Mr Beetham, who runs a computer business in Bath Street, Leek, said: "People will be put off coming into town. My business has already been affected.

"Customers used to be able to pull up outside and pop in, but they daren't now because of the traffic wardens. I am sure it has had an effect on other traders.

"It is just going to get worse and worse. We don't want the town to get a reputation for drivers being fined all the time, but unfortunately it is."

Under the plans, all existing staff will transfer to the new company.