Wealden Police Inspector Richard Allum attended a town council environment and leisure committee to discuss the proposal
He described schemes which are currently working well in both Rotherfield and Maresfield where councillors act as traffic wardens.

Uckfield would differ, chairman Cllr Helen Firth suggested, by recruiting local residents as volunteers.

Uckfield police would run training sessions and the wardens' jobs would be to 'ticket' cars parked on pavements, in restricted zones or antisocially where they could impede a pathway or block visibility.

The scheme would be run jointly between Uckfield Town Council and Sussex Police.

Inspector Allum said: 'This is just an idea which is being considered by the Town Council and would be aimed at raising awareness of parking problems.

'There are advisory notices and Sussex police would continue to carry out all enforcement of illegal parking.'

members agreed in principle with the proposal but sounded warning notes about potential confrontations or violence.

Cllr Bob Sweetland said: 'There is no point getting into a big argument.'

He suggested police parking enforcers 'blitz' areas one at a time but Inspector Allum said 'blitzing' doesn't work.

The existing village schemes see a letter placed on the windscreen of cars saying the vehicle is causing an obstruction.

It goes on to explain how this can cause inconvenience to pedestrians, parents or elderly people and says the council's preferred approach is to 'obtain your co-operative response.'

The place, date, time and vehicle registrations are noted and information passed to police would be used to target persistent offenders.

The councils involved may also write to offenders and publish the information.

A proposal will be put before Uckfield full Town Council on September 8.