100 jobs to go as TfL axes red route patrol contract

The staff, whose main job is to tow away illegally-parked cars on red routes, are being made redundant after TfL scrapped a five-year deal with contractor Ontime Automotive Ltd after less than a year.

Their last day will be 10 December. Workers have been told not to speak to the Press or they could face disciplinary action.

One, who asked to remain anonymous, said the lay-offs meant Christmas would be ruined. "It's not the most popular job but there are more than 100 people being made redundant. I just won't have any money for Christmas.

"I'm lucky, I just have a girlfriend and no kids, but there are other people married with big families." Those losing their jobs include drivers, enforcement officers, supervisors and administration staff, he said. Red routes are monitored by TfL staff and police enforcement teams, while local authority traffic wardens look after yellow line restrictions.

In partnership with TfL, Ontime operates nine compounds and 18 enforcement trucks. It employs more than 180 staff to operate 24-hour payment centres, pound security and vehicle removal operations.

A TfL spokesperson said: "Transport for London does not want to issue penalties or remove vehicles unless it is necessary. We want to help motorists understand and abide by the regulations. Where we do need to enforce, this must always be proportionate.

"We had previously identified that 90 per cent of the vehicles we were removing, whilst parked illegally in a designated loading or parking bay, were not actually causing a safety risk or obstructing traffic. This was not the aim of the removals service, and in May 2008 we set out some new rules to address this. This meant that a vehicle which is illegally parked in a designated bay but is not causing an obstruction to road traffic is not removed for at least 30 minutes after the issuing of a Penalty Charge.

"As part of on on-going review into our services, we took a decision to terminate the vehicle removal contract provided by Ontime Automotive Ltd. We have given Ontime 90 days notice, which is due to expire in December 2008. We have a contractual right to terminate the contract without cause. We will pay Ontime an amount that reflects any sums owed under the contract to date and an amount to ensure the orderly and safe shutdown of services.

"We are reviewing other, more cost-effective measures which will be aimed at removing only those vehicles that are a safety hazard or likely to cause congestion. We hope Londoners and motorists agree that the savings made, combined with a more targeted approach to addressing illegally parked vehicles is the best way forward."

Ontime declined to comment.