There will be 21 enforcement officers covering the county who will be responsible for on-street parking and car parks owned by the district and borough councils.

The new parking enforcement aims to bring about safer, less congested streets with more spaces available for shoppers and blue badge holders through a regular level of local enforcement.

The district and borough councils will manage the parking enforcement in their local areas and the County Council will handle the processing of penalty charge notices and appeals.

Councillor Stella Smedley, Nottinghamshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Environment, said: "Effective parking enforcement discourages the abuse of limited waiting car parking spaces in town centres and prevents able-bodied motorists using on-street and off-street spaces allocated for disabled drivers.

"Drivers who park properly and legally will notice no change other than easier access to parking spaces and less congestion caused by illegal parking."

Councillor Stan Heptinstall, Cabinet Member for Technical and Works Services at Broxtowe Borough Council, said: "Proper parking enforcement is essential for good traffic management in our borough.

"At present there has been a minimum of enforcement that has led to illegal parking, congestion, no parking places for those who need them and difficulties for disabled people.

"As from May 12th all this will change. There will be absolutely no problem for those who continue to obey the rules and park legally. But those who continue to abuse traffic regulations will be made to pay.

"It's about fining the few to make things much better for everyone else. I am confident that the majority of people will welcome the new situation."

The enforcement will involve issuing penalty charge notices where drivers have committed a parking offence – vehicles will not be clamped or towed away.

The parking restrictions will stay the same and any revenue raised from the issuing of penalty charge notices will be spent on the enforcement. Any surplus received will be spent on traffic management, public transport or car parking improvements.