BASINGSTOKE council has taken the first step towards taking over the policing of parking in the borough.

The council's Cabinet this week asked Hampshire County Council - as the local transport authority - to request that the Secretary of State for Transport and Local Government, Stephen Byers, grants Basingstoke "special parking area" status.

Once this is granted - hope-fully by October this year - Basingstoke council will take over the enforcement of parking laws from the police. The council will appoint its own parking wardens - and all fines will go to the council instead of the Home Office.

The scheme - described as "decriminalisation of parking" - means that although in the year 2002/03 it will cost £64,000 to set up, after that it is expected to make a profit. Projected profits for 2003/04 are £91,600, rising to £151,600 in 2004/05 and in subsequent years.

But as the move was given the go-ahead at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, members stressed that it was not a "money-making" scheme.

Cllr John Shaw said: "The revenue from parking fines will be ring-fenced to tackle traffic issues. That is absolutely fundamental because of the potential suspicions that residents might have, that this is a money-making scheme by the council."

Proposing that they go ahead and ask for special parking area status, Cabinet member for environmental sustainability Cllr Ron Hussey said that prior to taking over enforcement, the council was carrying out an audit of all parking regulations in the borough.

"The excess income will not just go into the council's general funds. It will have to be spent on highway matters," he told members. "We will be looking at improving residents parking schemes and improving parking generally."

Council leader Brian Gurden said the council would employ 12 parking attendants to police parking in the borough.