The three council compliance officers - whose duties range from parking inspection to dog registration to policing public reserves - say they have had an increasing amount of abuse from motorists unhappy about receiving parking tickets in recent months.

Council health building and compliance manager Clarry Fisher said parking officers had been more active since the opening of the Murray Bridge Marketplace as part of an effort to free up the availability of parking spaces in the central business district.

But he said their efforts were not going down well with those on the receiving end of infringement notices.

“The main problem seems to be getting a lot more aggravation - it’s a combination of a lot of things but generally they’re getting more abuse than would usually happen,” Mr Fisher said.

“We’re trying to look after the interest of the community so everyone gets a fair chance.”

Mr Fisher said increased activity from the inspectors had come about following talks with businesses, which had shown a need for a better flow of spaces.

Council compliance officers Tony Austin and Maggie MacNeill said inspectors were just doing their jobs but were often sworn at or abused by people they approached.

“From our point of view we’re just trying to help,” Mr Austin said.

“We’re not the baddies - we won’t infringe you if you haven’t done something wrong.”

Ms MacNeill said the response from some unhappy motorists was more than someone should have to put up with during the course of their job.

“You have to be thick-skinned - but where in society has it become acceptable to abuse some for their job,” Ms McNeill said.

CITY'S PARKING RULES NEED UPDATING

OUT of date parking rules around the new shopping centre at Murray Bridge could be fuelling some of the abuse levelled at the council’s parking inspectors, one business owner says.