ROSSENDALE Council has pledged to crack down on motorists who abuse a free short-term parking system.

The disc-parking car parks in Rawtenstall and Waterfoot allow drivers two hours' free disc parking if they set a disc from the time of their arrival.

But the council says a small number of drivers do not comply with the disc scheme by parking for an eight hour day, and have pledged to crack down on them.

From Monday the council will start enforcement action by car park attendants to make maximum use of the car parks. The legislation has been in place since the 1990s, but has not been strictly enforced in recent years.

Mark Weston, director of corporate support, said: "The town centre economy relies upon people being able to access the commercial area. We want the retail commercial areas of Rossendale to develop. Customers are the basis of a successful town centre. Our car parks provide two hours free parking compared to most other local towns where 'pay and display' is the norm.

"Unfortunately, the two hour limit is not being adhered to by a minority of drivers, resulting in other people being deterred from shopping as they cannot park."

Later this year, parking enforcement of on-street parking is being decriminalised across Lancashire which means that the responsibility for enforcing street parking will no longer be a police responsibility but will become a local authority responsibility.

Once on-street parking is enforced routinely by attendants, the demand for off-street parking will also increase.

The standard charge for car park offences has been raised to £60, or £30 if paid within five days to be in line with increases in on street parking penalties.

Mr Weston said: "We are giving this warning to the community that the disc parking scheme will once again be enforced from July 5 so that everyone who parks in the disc car parks can ensure that they comply with the parking restrictions. We don't want shoppers who can't park, leaving the Valley for neighbouring towns."

Only disc car parks are affected.