THE power for PCSOs to enforce parking rules is unlikely to happen in Swindon, despite cross-party support for a council motion backing the change last week.

On Thursday night, Coun Carol Shelley (Lab, Gorse Hill & Pinehurst) was backed unanimously by the council in a call for more powers for police community support officers.

Council leader David Renard (Con, Haydon Wick) will now ask Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson if the powers can be granted.

However, any changes to the role and responsibility of PCSOs in the town is far from certain, given the breadth of re-training and changes in employment required across Wiltshire Police to enact any changes.

The motion came about due to the need for more support for schools from the council on solving the parking issues, which are making life unsafe for pedestrians and inconvenient for residents.

The push for more help from PCSOs is a result of the fact there are too few council-employed traffic enforcement officers to make a difference at every school.

A police spokesman said Wiltshire Police was reviewing the overall roles and responsibilities of PCSOs in the force.

But he said parking enforcement responsibilities do not form part of the review.

However, as the council is contacting Mr Macpherson there is hope among councillors that he may set a new trend for PCSO involvement in the parking issue.

“There’s not much, as a councillor, I can really add to the PCC’s considerations,” said Coun Oliver Donachie (Con, Haydon Wick), who seconded the motion.

“It’s not fair to prejudge what the PCC may decide, because we simply don’t know. “We have to hope he will give it full and frank consideration.

“He will know the depth of people’s feelings around this.

“It’s like many things in life, a problem caused by a persistent, ardent few.

“Most people are perfectly sensible, with walking trains set up for the children, but there is a hardened minority.

“We will wait to see what he has to say.

“It’s important the commissioner knows the strength of feeling in the chamber on Thursday night.

“He has a mandate to make these decisions. I find him to be a person that does reflect on the feedback he receives and I hope he does reflect on what’s being said here.”