PARKING bosses in Fareham will pledge to get tough on motorists if they take control of the town's traffic wardens.

Civic bosses are to debate whether to take the job over from the police and allow existing wardens to concentrate solely on an illegal parking crackdown.

This could net £422,000 a year once it is up and running. But a staggering 14,066 £30 tickets would need to be issued to raise that figure.

But the move, to be discussed by councillors later this month, would mean a three per cent rise in the borough's slice of the council tax next year.

Fareham Council leader Councillor Sean Woodward said: "The sticking point is the significant cost to taxpayers.

"And we don't like the thought that Fareham would have to cover any losses, but if the scheme made a profit it would go straight to the county council.

"What I also don't want to do, because I don't believe in it, is to try to soak the motorist.

"If we do it, it will be to keep traffic moving, stop overstaying and obstructive parking and introduce residents' parking schemes.

"More people will get fixed penalty notices, but if they are committing offences that is what they should expect."

Problem streets in Fareham include West Street, Salterns Lane, Redlands Lane and Longfield Avenue.

The county council has agreed to put £100,000 towards introducing the scheme, which would cost Fareham taxpayers an extra £150,000 - about £4 per bill each year.

But residents' groups are reeling at the thought of yet another tax increase for what they see as an unnecessary scheme.

Audrey Sitch, of Fareham Community Action, is angry that bills could go up with no sign of a new community centre facility in the town when the current one closes in 2006.

She said: "It's wrong. They will be getting even more money out of us if they put this on as well.

"I don't know why the money has to come that way. I don't see why they can't manage to cover the cost. And where will the money they make go? Not on a new community centre.

"I don't think there's a real parking problem in Fareham anyway. The street is packed with cars doing the school run, but it's the same everywhere. I think we're very lucky with our car parks here in Fareham."

The borough's two traffic wardens would be employed by the council, allowing them to concentrate fully on moving traffic along and checks on car parks where limits are often exceeded.

It would also mean residents' parking schemes could be introduced to problem streets - something that is requested by residents about four times a year.

The plans will be discussed at an executive meeting of the council on July 19.