A SELKIRK cop is going on the warpath against the town’s parking pests.

And he will be followed by fellow community officers across the Borders over the coming weeks.

Former detective Conal McEwan took up his role as Selkirk’s community cop in February.

Over the past six months he has attempted to rid the town centre of its growing parking problem with warnings and advice.

But he admits his approach isn’t working.

PC McEwan said: “I have taken an educational approach so far but just as I’ve spoken to one driver another is pulling up on the yellow lines.

“There are parking restrictions in place and there are plenty signs - ignorance is no excuse and people should know where they can and can’t park.

“Enough education work has been done - it’s time to start ticketing.” (Cont’d on page 3) (Continued from front page) A clampdown on illegal parking is being held across in towns over the coming weeks as part of a region-wide initiative.

Community officers will be joined by traffic cops as they blitz problem hot-spots around town centres.

And PC McEwan will make a start with his ticket book tomorrow (Thursday).

He added: “I will be out all day on Thursday as part of the initiative. Tickets will be issued to any car which is parked illegally and in the worst cases, where the vehicle is considered to be parking dangerously, the cars will be impounded.” Selkirk is just one of several Borders town centres where parking problems have soared since the withdrawal of traffic wardens from the streets last year.

The High Street, Tower Street and Back Row have all been identified as problem areas.

Community councillor Aladair Lockhart said: “On Saturday there was just a single-file gap through the middle of cars parked on both sides of the High Street - this was along the whole street.

“Something needs to be done.” It is understood that emergency services vehicles, such as fire engines and amvbulances - have been instructed to bump illegally parked vehicles out of the way on Selkirk High Street.

A working group was set up at Scottish Borders Council to look at ways of policing the problem following the withdrawal of the traffic warden service.

And a report is due to be tabled later this year with their proposals.

Only 11 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities currently have decriminalised parking enforcement.

Selkirkshire councillor Michelle Ballantyne is part of the group. She said: “The working group is looking at decriminalised parking enforcement and how this could be funded.

“Since the removal of traffic wardens the problem with parking has got worse.

“A report on how to deal with this will be presented to Scottish Borders Councillater this year.”