Our traffic warden is just the ticket, say islanders

To most motorists, they are masochists who take delight in issuing that ticket or enforcing that obscure parking by-law. Not many are on Christmas card lists or top popularity polls.

Unless you live in Orkney, where a traffic warden is running the risk of giving the profession a good name by being the subject of a petition, not to get rid of him, but to ensure he stays.

When Stromness on the Orkney mainland was threatened with the loss of its warden, locals took matters into their own hands and launched a campaign to keep him on the street.

Wardens in cities are shouted and sworn at, spat on and have even been shot, but James Dewar, 59, is regarded as part of the community in the islands where he pounds the beat.

"To us he's a friend," said Sarah Taylor, who heads the opposition to Mr Dewar losing his job. "Anywhere else, people would be surprised that we want to keep our traffic warden. But he does an invaluable job in Stromness and he's a great asset to the town."

Mr Dewar was told earlier this year that his services were no longer required. Northern Constabulary is increasing the number of police officers in Stromness and decided the warden's post was no longer needed.

But yesterday he was out on patrol again, after hundreds of people signed the petition and outside funding was found to keep him in post this summer.

Mr Dewar, who has carried out the four-month seasonal job for 14 years, said: "For a traffic warden to be wanted is unusual to say the least. I'm deeply honoured that the people of Stromness wanted to keep me as their traffic warden. I'm so grateful for their support."

His regular beat is a narrow street paved with flagstones, which winds its way through the historic town. The single-track route with passing places is far removed from a city-centre traffic black spot, although it does have its share of bottlenecks, particularly during the tourist season. "There aren't many streets like it in the north of Scotland," Mr Dewar said.

"The population of Stromness probably doubles in the summer with tourists. They come off the ferry, turn into the street and are taken completely by surprise. And when they have caravans, it can be a nightmare."

Alistair Peebles, who runs the Porteous Brae Gallery which stands alongside the narrowest part of the street, said: "If anyone stops outside, even for a moment, it brings the entire street to a standstill. But James is always around to guide drivers and keep things moving in the most gentle way possible. Stromness is a hospitable town that welcomes visitors and he perfectly reflects that. He is so kind and obliging, not at all like the popular image of a traffic warden."

Mr Dewar is coy about how many parking tickets he issues a year, but Mr Peebles said: "I'm sure he must issue parking tickets, but somehow I can't really imagine it. With his maturity and gentle demeanour, he is the perfect man for the job."

While some drivers swear traffic wardens drink blood and sacrifice small children in their spare time, Mr Dewar's nice-guy image seems to extend beyond simply keeping vehicles in Stromness on the move. Locals have praised the care he takes in looking after children on their way home from school and the assistance he offers tourists.

The father of one and grandfather of four is even nice to animals as he and his wife Jenny run a small croft near Stromness, growing vegetables and looking after sheep, goats and hens.

Having escaped the axe, Mr Dewar may even have his role extended, with Northern Constabulary now looking at expanding the warden's duties next year. The force is to discuss potential ideas with Orkney Islands Council, which employs car park attendants and harbour staff in Stromness.

Chief Inspector David Miller said: "We feel there's an opportunity for joint working. It was agreed that the traffic warden would remain in Stromness this summer while we talk about the options open to us."

Shot at, spat on and hit … all in the line of duty

TRAFFIC wardens are among the front-line workers most frequently under attack, verbally and physically, by irate members of the public.

Unison, Scotland's biggest union, has called for the Emergency Workers Act, which protects some public service staff from attack, to be extended to cover traffic wardens as well as social workers, housing staff, nurses and community safety officers.

Verbal and physical attacks across the public sector peaked at 100,000 per year.

In March, a parking warden was shot with an air rifle as he ticketed cars in Edinburgh's New Town.

Last August, a motorist was fined 1,000 for driving off and nearly hitting a female traffic warden as she tried to fix a parking ticket to his windscreen in Edinburgh.

An angry pensioner in Prestonpans was fined 90 for hitting out at a warden after getting a ticket.

It was also reported this year that wardens patrolling Birmingham's A34 route have been the victims of a series of violent and unprovoked attacks.

One had a chemical sprayed in his eyes and others were punched and had their mopeds kicked over. Nine separate attacks were recorded in six months.

Council officials in Wolverhampton say wardens are abused "almost every day".

It is claimed that they have been fired at by a pellet gun, a dart and even driven at by motorists angry at receiving a ticket.

Other incidents include wardens being spat at, punched, kicked, having stones and drinks cans thrown at them and liquid being poured over them.

One driver reversed his car into an attendant and motorists have also slapped parking tickets on attendants' uniforms.

Last June, a traffic warden in London ended up in hospital after being attacked while putting tickets on cars outside a wake for a soldier who had been killed in Iraq.