St Albans council has admitted it does not scrutinise how free city centre parking permits are used.

Last Saturday afternoon, while the market was in full swing, the Herts Ad found 11 cars in the Civic Centre Car Park using free staff and councillor permits.

Nine cars were staff or contractors and two were councillors or aldermen.

Head of corporate services at SADC Simonne deVall said: “At the council, we have flexible working, evening meetings, and weekend working, and Saturday is a normal working day for some of our people. So it doesn’t surprise me that you found nine cars belonging to staff and contractors in our staff car park on a Saturday.”

She said the cars included market workers, CCTV contractors, and museum staff.

Adding: “We don’t scrutinise every last minute of staff parking. It would be too onerous and overly burdensome. But if staff or councillors park there without a permit, they will get a parking ticket just like anyone else.”