The farcical car parking system that has cost the taxpayer at least £1.3 million has finally been scrapped – yet a question mark hangs over why it took the council so long to act.

Last year a Bucks Free Press investigation revealed ticket dodgers could be getting away scot-free, questioning whether the £680,000 camera-operated ANPR system has the capability to fine drivers who leave car parks without paying.

And now almost a year on from the alarming revelation, WDC announced it had been forced to ditch ANPR in favour of pay-and-display.

WDC has passed on blame, saying it was left with “no alternative” to change the system following the government’s decision to restrict number plate data held by the DVLA.

However cabinet member for environment, councillor Jean Teesdale, admitted problems surfaced more than two years ago, and now once again faces calls to resign.

Bucks Free Press:

Opposition councillor for Labour, Khalil Ahmed, said: “My comments are quite clear. My discontent lies with the board member who should have been watching over this, Jean Teesdale, whose resignation I called for last year after that big fiasco.

“It is becoming evident I was right all along, and they had not done their due diligence.

“When I called for councillor Teesdale to resign last year her response was, ‘Let’s wait and see.’ Well now I think it is essential that she resigns – it is the least she can do.”

Figures over the failing camera operated system are yet to be released, however in 2016 it was revealed only £26,000 had been collected in fines from WDC car parks over the course of a year – £235,000 less than four years ago under the old pay-and-display scheme.

And councillors admitted the ANPR scheme brought in almost £500,000 less than the £2.8 million predicted last year, and the machines had been repeatedly targeted by vandals costing the taxpayer a further £160,000.

Heads have now turned to those in power over the course of the ANPR catastrophe, leader of the council  and cabinet member when the system was signed off, Alex Collingwood, and Audrey Jones, leader of the council while system was being implemented, Richard Scott and current leader Katrina Wood.

Cllr Teesdale said there is “no one to blame” for the fiasco and apologised for the failures, but continues to insist ANPR was “very effective”. and “the best thing for the people of Wycombe.”

She said: “There is no one to blame because this has happened in other places, not just Wycombe. What has happened is we have been let down by the government.

“We were getting the details from the DVLA and they stopped giving them to us.

“Of course we didn’t want this to happen. We were looking for the best deal for the customer.

“We are very sorry but I don’t feel we could have done anything else.

“Unfortunately it didn’t work and I personally am very upset about it.

“We have got to work through this and sort things out. I still think it is the best system as it is very customer friendly.”

From February 25 all of the WDC owned car parks, apart from The Swan and Easton Street, will change from ANPR to pay-and-display.

Drivers will continue to pay before they leave the Easton Street and Swan car parks following the installation of exit barriers.

The barriers will raise on exit if the driver has a registered permit, a registered blue badge or parking has been paid for at the payment machine.

All online payments will be closed from February 25.

For more information, Visit www.wycombe.gov.uk/parkingischanging