TRAFFIC wardens in Bishop's Waltham are “terrified” following continued abuse, a parish council meeting has heard.

Parking in the square of the market town is becoming so fraught that residents are too scared to object to careless parking, city Councillor David McLean said.

“We have these wardens doing their best they can, but they're almost terrified now to say anything because they get abuse. I heard one was attacked the other day.

“In the square there have been reports of some fairly savage issues,” he said.

Beat officer PC Simon Paulls said: “We do not believe a warden was assaulted but a few have been verbally assaulted by the public. It's happened two or three times in total in the last year and I have been with them to see it on a couple of occasions.

“The public have got very blasé about parking and we're just trying to get back on track,” he said.

In an effort to tackle the problem PC Paulls has been in regular contact with the wardens, even accompanying them on patrols.

Wardens patrol the town six days a week and have done so for the past two years.

A spokesman for Winchester City Council, who are responsible for parking enforcement, said: “Our parking department has always worked closely with the police and has good relations with them. If assistance were required due to an incident then we would hope for a swift response and support.”

The meeting at the Jubilee Hall on January 15 also heard from Cllr McLean that some disabled blue badge holders had been parking - legitimately - on double yellow lines, but that this was often causing an obstruction in the town centre.

Cllr Barry Nicholson, the parish council's highways boss, said he was already aware of the issue and that an assessment of parking requirements in the town was underway.