A COUNCIL has apologised to motorists for a delay in settling appeals to parking fines – blaming a staff shortage for the hold-up.

Motorists told the Free Press they were still awaiting the verdict to appeals they submitted to Wycombe District Council weeks ago.

The authority said this was due to a downsizing in the parking services team following the transfer of on-street parking enforcement to Buckinghamshire County Council in September.

WDC said all appeals received during the transfer to County Hall were put on hold - at no extra charge to the motorist – and apologised for the wait.

Catherine Spalton, spokesman for WDC, said: “Last September we stopped enforcing on street parking regulations, which also meant that our parking services team reduced in size.

“All penalty charge notices issued up to that point for both on and off street parking still had to be processed by our reduced parking services team, which in some instances lead to a delay in responding to any appeals.

“The appeals received at that time were put on hold until an investigation could take place and a response issued; anyone appealing a penalty during that time did not incur any extra charge as a result.

“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience that this may have caused.”

She added the council is now able to respond to off-street parking appeals within two or three working days, subject to the complexity of any investigation.