It has “not been easy” to recruit parking wardens as residents complain of illegal and treacherous parking across Greenwich.

Councillor Jackie Smith, cabinet member for enforcement, said the service has not been good enough as residents asked questions about parking problems.

Paul Billington, a Plumstead resident, asked the cabinet member at Wednesday’s full council meeting: “There is a huge problem with parking where cars are parked in cycle lanes or on pavements. It’s hard for people with pushchairs or elderly, or blind, to get access.

“Even the other day I saw a car park in the middle of a pedestrian crossing. I saw a visually impaired person need help.

“Throughout the borough it seems to be widespread. I notice it has been mentioned about the increasing number of wardens, but when?

“I’d like to know with CPZ’s being increased whether the level of enforcement matches the problems we face in this borough.”

Since August 30 parking penalty notices have been issued in Plumstead Road alone, and more “visits” by wardens are planned for the coming weeks.

However, the cabinet member said she sympathised with residents’ frustrations.

Cllr Smith said: “We don’t have enough parking wardens. We’ve been trying really hard to recruit them but it has not been easy.

“We had two rounds of recruitment where we did not manage to recruit a single person.

“We have had a few more in, we are introducing other measure as well which are mobile facilities and cameras. We will get on top of it.

“I agree it is not good enough. Parking across the borough is treacherous for people. We will be bringing it forward, I hope in six months you see a completely different story.”