Once a 'parking division' is established in the local council there is then a manager in charge of it. Managers tend to calculate their worth in terms of the number of people 'under' them. This prompts empire building. More neighbourhoods are 'convinced' to 'get on board', more traffic wardens are employed, more tickets need to be issued to pay for the cost of running the set-up (revenue from residents parking permits stretches to a fraction of this cost). I know that residents of a number of streets in Pinner, Middx had to organise a petition to stop their local council from imposing the daft parking scheme on them!
But it's not all bad - some areas probably genuinely benefit from residents parking. Also it's a nice job creation scheme for people who are not otherwise fit for much else
But the point I think with traffic and parking is this - it's not the problem, it's a symptom of the problem. Britain needs an efficient, effective, integrated, affordable and pleasant public transport system. Rather like what Switzerland has (yes, affordable - I lived there). Why not also copy the Swiss health system - works like clockwork! I would also go further and suggest the Swiss can teach us a thing or two about democracy. But I would stop short of praising their sense of humour
Cheers,
arthurdent