PARKING enforcement managers have denied money was the motivation behind officers being allegedly told to issue illegal tickets.

Former city parking attendants Jo Pengilley, of Redhills, Exeter, Tony Lewis, of Beacon Heath, Exeter, and Sylvia Watts, from Exmouth, are claiming unfair constructive dismissal by Exeter City Council at an employment tribunal in Taunton.

The former traffic wardens, who became civil enforcement officers when the responsibility for parking shifted to the council from the police, claim they were told to issue parking tickets to motorists where signs and lines were ambiguous or non-compliant with the law.

During the hearing, Robert Shaw, for the claimants, suggested making money was behind the city council's being "hell bent" on asking officers to issue illegal tickets. He said Exeter was the only authority in Devon to make a profit following the introduction of the scheme.

Line manager Paul Mackie denied that was the case. But he told the tribunal he did consider the profit to be an achievement.

Mr Mackie said orders came from Devon County Council to continue issuing tickets despite the legality of some signs being unknown.

Mr Shaw asked Mr Mackie if he thought that was a lawful practice, to which the line manager replied "you will have to ask Devon County Council".

Mr Shaw continued: "Motorists have to know there is something wrong and appeal. All the while Exeter City Council is issuing tickets which may or may not be legal."

Mr Mackie replied: "I am not going to comment on that."

The line manager told the tribunal the trio had received no formal training on civil parking enforcement, but said there were weekly briefings.

He said two complaints about the trio by three other members of staff led to an audit being carried out, and he said malpractice was also suspected.

Mr Shaw said: "The claimants' position is that this was effectively a witch hunt and you were gunning for them."

Mr Mackie said that was not the case. He said he did not know of any unlawful or unreasonable instructions being issued to the trio.

The tribunal heard that 3,000 tickets have been cancelled since May 2008 — around 10 per cent.

When asked about the issuing of alleged illegal tickets, Roger Coombes, head of Exeter city council's parking department, said where an intention of a restriction is clear a ticket should be issued.

The tribunal continues.