CHANGES to the way councils deal with parking offences — including a ban on CCTV “spy cars” and the offer of a 10 minute grace period for delayed drivers — are expected to take effect later this month.

Communities secretary Eric Pickles has announced that a raft of measures will come in to end a so called “war on drivers” that he said has made law abiding motorists "feel like criminals".

The changes will mean that cars parked in council-owned parking spaces will be allowed a 10 minute grace period before being fined if they stay too long in the space.

There will also be a ban on the use of CCTV “spy cars”, except in no-parking areas such as bus lanes and areas near schools.

Mr Pickles also wants to give new powers to parking adjudicators to hold councils to account as well as to residents who want parking issues in certain areas reviewed.

Bolton Council has said the changes will not affect the way it operates as it already offers a grace period for parking and has restricted the use of the CCTV car, accusing Mr Pickles of “playing to the gallery” with the announcement.

Cllr Nick Peel, the authority’s executive member for the environment said: “What Mr Pickles is speaking about, we are already doing — we have a grace period in place and we only use the CCTV car outside schools and in areas where a problem has been alerted to us by a resident.

“I think you need a bit of flexibility on that and Mr Pickles should stop trying to micro-manage local councils.

"We deal with any and all complaints from residents about parking on a daily basis and don't require a petition to look into them, we have the local knowledge required."

Cllr Peel took particular issue with the secretary of state’s reminder to local authorities that they are banned from using parking to generate profit.

He said: “What he doesn't seem to realise is that any surplus we make from parking fines is put directly into funding the enforcement of parking restrictions — that is how we pay for it.

“To suggest that councils simply can’t make a surplus that can be used to fund this service is plainly ridiculous.”

Westhoughton-based parking campaigner Barry Moss said: “I particularly welcome any ban on the CCTV car because I believe that was a cash cow for the council.

“In terms of the grace period, I think it will work for people who are genuinely running a bit late but I think other people will just take advantage of it.”

The changes will come in as a result of new laws, guidance to councils and the use of a statutory instrument which allows the government to make rules without a parliamentary act.