CLITHEROE Town Action Group (C-TAG) has launched a campaign called ‘Back Off’ in response to what they feel is an over-zealous enforcement of parking regulations in the town centre.

The campaign is led by Coun Ged Mirfin and Mayor of Clitheroe Kevin Horkin and hopes to lobby the borough council for more parking in the centre of the historic market town.

Car parks in the town are controlled by the borough council but parking rules on the high streets of Clitheroe are enforced by Lancashire County Council.

C-TAG says traders counted in excess of 30 parking tickets being given out in a couple of hours on Thursday afternoon.

But a spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: “According to our records, only five penalty charge notices were issued on the main town centre streets in Clitheroe on Thursday.”

Coun Horkin said: “How can shippers be expected to enjoy what the high street has to offer if they are constantly looking at their watches wondering if they are about to get a ticket?

“Several shop owners have said to me that shoppers have had to leave their premises in a hurry, rushing off saying they need to be back to their vehicles before they get a ticket.

“This is hardly the experience we want to promote.”

Paul Riley, Lancashire County Council parking services manager, said: “We enforce restrictions to deter illegal and inconsiderate parking in Clitheroe town centre which is particularly important when demand for parking is high.

“Our officers can only issue penalties to vehicles which are parked illegally, and anyone who wishes to contest their penalty can follow the appeals process.

“All current restrictions have been developed as a result of consultation with residents and businesses over a number of years to give everyone who uses the area an opportunity to park.”

Coun Ged Mirfin said: “There are regularly four or five parking attendants in Clitheroe when really there should only be one.

“We want to look at the figures and see how Clitheroe compares to other towns of a similar size in terms of how many parking tickets are given out and then see what we can do to reduce the number.”