SCORES of sunseekers who flocked to Verulamium Park at the weekend found themselves rapped on the knuckles for parking on the grass verge in Bluehouse Hill.

One hundred warning notices were issued to motorists over two days, Saturday and Sunday, St Albans District Council confirmed. The warnings, which were left under vehicles’ windscreen wipers, told them they had contravened a traffic regulation order and if they parked there again they would be fined £70.

For many years drivers have taken to parking on the verges on hot days and during school holidays, after either failing to find parking at the Verulamium Museum car park, or avoiding the pay and display.

Residents were left confused after the council put up restriction signs in Bluehouse Hill in November 2010 – then shortly after covered them up.

The Review revealed how nine months after restriction notices were put up, the council was still dithering over whether to ban cars from parking on the verge – this was finally enforced last month.

Councillor Martin Leach, leader of the Labour Party at the district council, said the only way the parking problem can be resolved is by expanding the car parks.

He said: “It’s just really short sighted. St Albans is a major tourist destination. The park has suffered for many years with inadequate parking and all the council is doing is giving the wrong message to visitors.

“It’s like they are saying St Albans is not a car friendly place and that’s wrong.

“People have the impression that St Albans is not open for business.”

Councillor Leach, who was a member of the council’s car parking working party, said alternative parking options had been explored but many were too far away and others would exacerbate current parking problems on residential streets.

Verulam ward councillor Altun Dursan said the council should not have uncovered the restrictions if alternatives had not been put in place.

Mike Lovelady, head of legal, democratic and regulatory services at the district council, said: “The council will begin issuing penalty notices to enforce the Traffic Regulation Order in place at Bluehouse Hill shortly.

“During an initial period, parking enforcement officers have been issuing warning notices telling people parking on the verges that if they park there again they risk receiving a penalty notice.”