WOULD you be happy to pay a couple of pounds per year extra on council tax to fund a traffic warden for Delabole? That is the questions Cllr Dominic Fairman is putting to the village before the parish council sets the precept for next year.

Cllr Fairman, Cornwall Councillor for the St Teath and St Breward Ward (Lib Dem) said: “Parking is one of the major problems for residents in the village and with more working adults staying at home for longer, the number of cars is inevitably on the increase.

“Like many Cornish villages, the double yellow lines had become neglected and the harsh truth is that with limited funds to allocate to regular enforcement, Cornwall Council had taken the view that repainting the lines where we could not afford a warden was not seen as worthwhile.”

Cllr Fairman continued: “The trouble for Delabole is that the historic houses in Pengelly, Medrose and the High Street were obviously never built with car ownership in mind, and so the yellow lines are essential for road safety, ambulances, and especially maintain to free access for the community fire engine from its station by the quarry. In the autumn of last year, the fire engine was delayed on several call-outs due to inappropriately parked cars.

“Having successfully lobbied at New County Hall for all the lines in the village to be repainted, I then talked to our traffic enforcement department. They put me in touch with other parish councils in a similar situation that had bought some part-time enforcement from Cornwall Council.”

The proposed agreement would cost around £2 per year on a Band D property and would mean that every week — at irregular times — a traffic warden would walk the village.

Cllr Fairman added: “I put the proposal to the parish council in December, and it will be debated this month. So far, all of the residents I have spoken to have been supportive of the idea.

“My hope is that the scheme would result in very few tickets actually being issued, but would help to make people think before they park, and gradually change their habits to the benefit of all of the parish.”

For those wishing to express their views, contact Cllr Fairman on 07939 122 303 or at [email protected]. The parish council can also be contacted.