New figures have revealed that several councils in Wales are spending significantly more on traffic wardens than they take in.
One of the worst offenders is Flintshire Council, which has spent a staggering £1,032,545 on Civil Enforcement Officers since 2018 but only brought in a measly £328,268.
In Merthyr Tydfil, the council has spent £482,682 but taken in a mere £360,969 whilst Caerphilly Council spent £711,695 and brought in £674,945 during the same period. All three councils are run by Labour.
Since 2018, the Plaid Cymru-run Anglesey Council has spent £255,611 on Civil Enforcement Officers, whilst only bringing in £122,462.
Some councils did not commence civil enforcement services until 2019, such as Labour-run Torfaen, who have spent £446,470 whilst only taking in a meagre £175,000.
Commenting on the figures, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Local Government, Sam Rowlands MS, said:
This is an awful waste of taxpayer’s money.
Council leaders should urgently review this spend and stop wasting money, especially when the returns are so poor.
Of course, Labour and Plaid Cymru are fond of splurging taxpayer money – whether that is on traffic wardens or more politicians in Cardiff Bay.
Cynghorau'n gwastraffu symiau enfawr ar wardeiniaid traffig
Mae ffigurau newydd wedi dangos bod nifer o gynghorau yng Nghymru yn gwario llawer mwy ar wardeiniaid traffig na'r arian maent yn ei gasglu.
Un o'r troseddwyr gwaethaf yw Cyngor Sir y Fflint, sydd wedi gwario swm syfrdanol o £1,032,545 ar Swyddogion Gorfodi Sifil ers 2018 ond dim ond wedi casglu £328,268 at y coffrau.
Ym Merthyr Tudful, mae'r cyngor wedi gwario £482,682 ond wedi cymryd £360,969 yn unig tra bod Cyngor Caerffili wedi gwario £711,695 a chasglu £674,945 yn ystod yr un cyfnod. Llafur sy'n rheoli'r tri chyngor.
Ers 2018, mae Cyngor Ynys Môn, sydd dan reolaeth Plaid Cymru, wedi gwario £255,611 ar Swyddogion Gorfodi Sifil, a chasglu dim ond £122,462 mewn dirwyon.
Ni ddechreuodd rhai cynghorau wasanaethau gorfodi sifil tan 2019, fel Torfaen sy'n cael ei redeg gan Lafur, sydd wedi gwario £446,470 a chasglu dim ond £175,000.
Wrth sôn am y ffigurau, dywedodd Sam Rowlands AS, Gweinidog yr Wrthblaid y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig dros Lywodraeth Leol:
Mae hyn yn wastraff ofnadwy o arian trethdalwyr.
Dylai arweinwyr cynghorau adolygu'r gwariant hwn ar frys a rhoi'r gorau i wastraffu arian, yn enwedig pan mae'r enillion mor drybeilig o wael.
Wrth gwrs, mae Llafur a Phlaid Cymru yn hoff o wario'n wirion gydag arian trethdalwyr - boed hynny ar wardeiniaid traffig neu fwy o wleidyddion ym Mae Caerdydd.
