That is the view of SBC’s road user manager Jim McQuillan.

“Lack of enforcement is a major bone of contention in Borders towns,” said Mr McQuillan. “Such a transfer would allow the council to increase the enforcement effort, funded through fines and parking charges.”

His comments came as it was confirmed Selkirk has been selected for a major survey of parking in the current financial year.

Motorists in the town are only too aware that, without enforcement, chaos can quickly ensue.

On one day last week, a car parked illegally for just five minutes on the north side of High Street, close to the junction with Tower Street, caused a tailback of southbound traffic as far Ettrick Terrace.

It also brought northbound vehicles to a halt as a large lorry was unable to turn into High Street from Tower Street.

Yet on the few days a month that a traffic warden, under the authority of the police, patrols the town, fixed penalty tickets are disbursed and traffic tends to flow without a hitch.

Mr McQuillan said parking would have to be decriminalised before it could be switched to councils for enforcement.

But this option was currently being investigated by South East Scotland Transport (SESTRANS), which represents the councils of Borders, the Lothians, Fife and the City of Edinburgh.

“Our [SBC] officers who attend the SESTRANS meetings are participating fully in these discussions. This option, which could be around two years away, may provide the best way forward for the future of parking control in the Borders.”

The Selkirk survey will determine if significant numbers of cars exceed the time limit for on-street parking and if blue badge (disabled) holders have difficulty parking in the town centre.

A new strategy, to standardise how parking problems are addressed, has recently been adopted by Scottish Borders Council.

That includes the possible introduction of on-street parking charges, so far never imposed in the region.