IT was introduced to clamp down on motorists parking illegally and making the borough’s roads dangerous.

But Bolton Council’s new £50,000 CCTV Smart car is causing anger among the town’s residents, who have spotted it parked in restricted zones, on central reservations and on double yellow lines.

Barry Moss snapped a picture of the car — which is fitted with a CCTV camera on a 3.6m high mast — parked in a Loading Only bay in Market Street, Westhoughton.

But the council claims it has special dispensation to park in restricted areas.

Another reader captured it parked on double yellow lines outside the Town Hall and there have been claims it has been spotted parking illegally in Farnworth and Kearsley.

But a town hall contractor, who did not want to be named, said: “It seems like double standards and it does wind people up. It is one rule for them and one rule for everyone else.

“It is all right saying the council has special dispensation but that is saying that they are above the law.”

Mr Moss, aged 63, of Daisy Hill, added: “I got out of my car to ask the enforcement officer why in my opinion he was parked illegally. He said the council had special permission.

“The council say that enforcement is to help maintain traffic flow and safety on the roads. Why then was this driver given permission to ignore that directive?”

The Highway Code says motorists must not wait or park on double yellow lines. Parking in a loading bay when not loading or unloading is also prohibited.

Ellen Booth, campaigns officer, for Road safety charity Brake, said “Brake urges everyone who drives to make sure that they are parking responsibly and in a safe manner.

“The council should be leading by example and by parking illegally they are risking the safety of the community.”

A council spokesman said: “Civil enforcement officers in the course of their duties are legally permitted to park in restricted areas.

“As part of his duties, the officer in the Smart car was observing traffic. The Smart car is not live yet and it is important for officers to observe traffic during this period.

“Our officers will only park in restricted areas if there are no other options available. They will try to park safely and cause the least possible disruption to other road users.”

andrew.greaves@ theboltonnews.co.uk