ALMOST a third of parking tickets issued by Wychavon District Council in the past 12 months have been contested, councillors will be told next week.

But more than 60 per cent were settled within 14 days, meaning no further action was required.

The review of the first year since the council took over responsibility for parking enforcement from the police will be presented to members of the overview and scrutiny committee on Tuesday.

Councillors will also be told that there had been a high level of staff turnover in the Decriminalised Car Parking Enforcement unit.

Meanwhile, an Evesham businessman hit out this week at the lack of parking spaces in the town.

Newsagent Laurence Shuter, who runs Vine News on Vine Street, said a lack of car park spaces had led to problems with on and off-street parking in the area.

"The traffic wardens are only doing their job but they are driving visitors into car parks which are not big enough and they find there is nowhere for them to stop," he said.

Mr Shuter also hit out at vandals who have damaged a parking restriction sign in the area.

"They have blacked out details of the restrictions and the result is people are parking here and leaving their vehicles all day. The law apparently says that if people can't clearly see the restrictions displayed they cannot be penalised for ignoring them. The result for me is that I can lose £200 to £300 worth of casual trade every day."

Council spokeswoman Anne-Marie Darroch that 12 per cent of the complaints had been upheld and the remaining 88 per cent rejected.

She added: "Anyone who is dissatisfied with the council's decision has the opportunity to have their case decided by the National Parking Adjudication Service which is completely independent of the council."