MORE than £1,000 worth of parking fines have been issued to council vehicles in the past two years.

A Freedom of Information Act disclosure shows that 18 parking fines came to £1,075 — although the council has said that staff were made to pay the fines themselves.

Vehicles include those used by Bolton Council’s highways department, pest control, the street cleaning team and the asylum team.

On three occasions, vehicles used by Bolton At Home, the management organisation which looks after the council’s housing stock, have been booked by parking attendants.

Last night, a council spokesman said: “We have 500 vehicles out and about every day and the small number of fines issued — less than one a month on average — is minimal.

“This shows that most council staff do set a good example and adhere to parking regulations. On the rare occasions that staff contravene the regulations they pay the fine themselves. All the fines issued have been paid on time.”

Cllr David Wilkinson said he was disappointed and that, despite the small number of tickets, the authority should be setting an example.

He said: “Unless there is an emergency situation then no one should be parking illegally. I know it is not a massive amount but 18 is still too many.

“We should be setting an example and it should be reiterated to staff that they should respect the traffic orders.”

In November, 2008, a parking attendant in Churchgate placed a penalty charge notice on a van white van, which had been hired by the council, while workmen put up a 25ft Christmas tree On that occasion the ticket was cancelled because vehicles carrying out work on highways are exempt from charges.

Last October, the council’s £50,000 CCTV Smart car, which was introduced to catch people parking illegally, was caught on camera by The Bolton News readers, parking in bays where it should not have. At the time town hall chiefs revealed it had special dispensation to park in restricted areas, much to the anger of residents.