The picket line in Camden this week

CAMDEN Council is losing at least £50,000 a day during a parking strike, union leaders have said, three weeks into the latest walkout.

Traffic warden Camden Unison members are calling for better pay and holiday allowances from NSL, a company owned by bailiff firm Marston Holdings. During the dispute the vast majority of parking offences are going unpunished with CCTV fines not being processed and few wardens out on the street to ticket drivers.

Unison branch secretary Liz Wheatley said: “We think Camden must be losing at least £50,000 a day because they can’t process tickets. Hardly any street tickets are being issued.

“The way for them to stop losing money hand over fist is to ultimately bring this service back in house. In the meantime NSL needs to make a decent offer to give the workers decent pay and conditions and the respect that comes with it.”

Marston Holdings, which also hires bailiffs to chase up debts, has a chief executive who earns £619,000 a year. Unison says the top boss gets £330,000 an hour.

The union members went to the company’s office in Shaftesbury Avenue, Bloomsbury, to protest this week (above). Protests have been held at Kilburn High Road and Regis Road as the pressure intensifies on Camden Council’s private contractor.

Camden traffic wardens won similar pay rise demands four years ago after 56 days of strike action.

Marston /NSL have been invited by the CNJ to comment on the dispute three times during the strike but have so far not responded.

A solidarity picket is being held outside the Camden depot, 13-15 Guilfold Street, King’s Cross, on Monday from 7-10am.