BBC Inside Out programme goes national

At 7.30pm tonight BBC 1 re-broadcast one of the most shocking pieces of documentary footage ever seen. It showed NCP parking attendants in Sunderland making racist comments and comments against disabled people. NCP's Communications Director was not as smug as his usual self as he attempted to 'defend' the indefencible.

Trouble is for NCP and the Council is that this is just the tip of a very large iceberg. The rest is in the hands of the Police. Remember, the Council told NCP to change the wording of their PCNs on 16th June 2005 to comply with Section 66(3) of the 1991 Road Traffic Act. They didn't do it until 30th November 2005, issuing over 12,000 PCNs in the meantime BUT the Council processed every one of those PCNs AND kept the money ... and they have refused to refund it.

I suspect that when the Department for Transport is forced to intervene ... and again remember that the Council told them all their lines and signs would be correct by the time DPE commenced on February 3rd 2003 ... the Council leadership which has failed to act decisively at any stage of the proceedings, will have to resign.

Cover up after cover up is not acceptable in this City. Our MPs have been silent and the portfolio holder and NPAS representative Joseph Lawson has been conspicuous by his absence.

It appears as though the Council spin machine is intent on a damage limitation exercise stating that NCP might lose the on-street enforcement which will be taken back in house with off street being kept by NCP.

SORRY BOYS BUT THIS IS SIMPLY NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE GAME'S UP AND THE SOONER YOU COME TO TERMS WITH IT THE SOONER THE DAMAGE DONE CAN BE PUT RIGHT.

There is no place in the city for a ruthless commercial operation working hand in hand with the Council to the detriment of the City's businesses and residents.

The Council meeting on Wednesday will be very interesting indeed.