Wiltshire could go hi-tech to get more parking loot.

Wiltshire Council's Conservative cabinet is looking to resort to Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology for use in residents' parking zones. A vehicle equipped with the kit would be able to whiz down the road checking parked cars as it went, stopping to ticket any cars lacking a permit. The £40,000 cost of the equipment would, the council hopes, soon be recovered in fines.

The council could also spend £60,000 on static ANPR cameras to be set up outside schools to nab parents stopping on yellow lines or zigzags. WC would keep the fines and would also make the schools pay for setting up the cameras.

Another technological option is equipping traffic wardens with BWVCs (Body Worn Video Cameras). These would help to protect the officers against increasing levels of aggression from drivers. The system would be the same as that used by the police and the cost to the council would be £25,000.

Modern systems don't always work - an attempt to introduce a pay-by-phone system to completely replace the cash payment machines has not been successful, so both options will remain in the council car parks.

These options are not part of the current round of increases in parking charges, but are due to be brought forward in the future.

Cabinet Agenda (go to page 293)