A Shirley resident has called on the council to utilise CCTV cameras in the area to prevent and punish drivers from parking on double yellow lines.

Tony Weafer, founder of Shirley and Freemantle Watch Community Forum, said it would “benefit the community” if CCTV was used on Shirley Road and neighbouring Emsworth Road.

He said: “It would be a benefit to the community if the council were monitoring the CCTV cameras to prevent illegal parking.

“From what I can see they’re not utilising the cameras and could even be making money from it by fining the owners of the vehicles who are parking on double yellow lines, which takes up room on the pavement and makes it difficult for people to get by.

“I don’t think the cameras are being monitored correctly because there’s repeatedly parking issues in the road.

"To add to that there’s a phone number on the signage next to the CCTV and when you call the number it doesn’t’ work, so how does that help?”

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In a statement, Cllr Eamonn Keogh, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “The Southampton Highways Partnership monitor a network of public space CCTV cameras across Southampton.

“Our City Watch team work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year continuously monitoring the city’s CCTV.

“All areas are proactively scanned by our operators when they are not responding to incidents, and the team also responds to incidents called in by police, council officers, stores, security, and local businesses such as clubs and pubs.”

He added: “All public space CCTV cameras in Shirley are operational, however local authorities are not permitted to use CCTV for the enforcement of double yellow lines.

“The double yellow line restrictions, such as those on Emsworth Road, are enforced by civil enforcement officers as part of the patrols in the Shirley area.

“Signage is currently being updated across the city on a rolling programme following changes to contact numbers at Southampton City Council, however contact information remains available on the Council’s website.”