THE countdown has begun to Eastleigh's car parking revolution which will see the civic offices dishing out the tickets.

Parking D-Day is October 1. From then council will be taking over responsibility for street parking as its new Parkwise scheme gets into top gear.

A team of parking attendants, employed by the council, will patrol streets and car parks helping to keep traffic moving, making the roads safer and enforcing parking restrictions.

But for the period leading up to the October start date, the council's parking team will be advising drivers of the new arrangements.

Executive councillor David Airey has welcomed the transfer of responsibility from the police to the council.

Talking about the scheme in the latest borough news, he says: "This is a positive step and our parking staff will be working to ensure drivers park safely and helping improve road safety on the borough's roads. We will start with a softly softly approach and before the scheme starts our parking attendants will issue notices that advise motorists who are contravening restrictions of their mistake and about the council's new responsibilities."

Council staff will also be working beyond the town centre. Regular patrols will be carried out throughout the borough.

Councillor Airey said: "In addition to reporting highway problems like damaged roads or abandoned vehicles, checks will be made on all roads where there are waiting and parking restrictions or residents and disabled parking bays."

Attendants will issue penalty charge notices imposing a £60 fine. If paid within 28 days it reduces to £30.