Traffic wardens swoop in nine minutes
A tradesman claims Tewkesbury traffic wardens for driving business out of the town.
Fire alarm engineer Dennis Hayden was handed a ticket after he parked his van in the town’s Quay Street.
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A traffic warden
Mr Hayden said he parked on the single yellow line for nine minutes to repair a fire alarm at a pub. He said he unloaded his tools and put a sign in his window to say he was doing work at the Anchor pub at 10.30am but returned at 10.39am and saw the ticket.
He said: “The warden must have been a fast writer and walker if she observed the vehicle seven minutes before writing the ticket.”
Mr Hayden, who lives in Bishop’s Cleeve, has written to Tewkesbury Borough Council, which took over parking enforcement from the police in 2007, to complain.
He said he walked up and down the road when he went back to the van but could not find a traffic warden in sight.
He said: “They are so abrupt, I am just trying to do a job. It gets to the stage where they are stopping people from doing their work – and even the local people are saying that.”
When Mr Hayden, who works for Mainpoint Fire Protections in Cheltenham, told customers in the pub what had happened they told him it was a common occurrence in the town centre. He said: “You just cannot park there at all, even for fixing a fire alarm.”
He believes the council is using parking tickets as a form of income – his ticket was for £35.
In September last year the Echo revealed Tewkesbury’s four parking enforcement officers issued more than 8,000 tickets in the financial year 2008/9.
The authority made a profit of £378,000 from off-street parking, which was spent on public passenger transport services and environmental improvements.
Councillor Phil Taylor, Tewkesbury Borough Council’s lead member for economic development and promotion, said drivers can only stop on single yellow lines to drop off passengers or to continuously load or unload a vehicle for a maximum of 20 minutes.
He said: “In this case, an officer observed the vehicle for seven minutes to determine whether any loading was taking place. After observing no action, a ticket was issued.
“Civil enforcement officers are not allowed to accept notices placed in vehicle windows. This is based on guidance from the Traffic Management Act 2004.”
39 Comments
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by Tewkesbury Resident, Tewkesbury
Monday, February 15 2010, 3:36PM
“gloucestershire county council, gloucester
You say that there is going to be a clamp down on the wardens in the next 6-8 weeks.
Clamp down on the wardens doing what exactly?
Is it not the county council that wants the wardens on the streets giving tickets to people who park incorrectly?
What's your point?”
by Mike, Tewkesbury
Monday, February 15 2010, 2:35PM
“gloucestershire county council, gloucester
commented on 15-Feb-2010 12:42
Thank you for the information gloucestershire county council, gloucester its not a bad idea.
At least the under cover agents will see at first hand the abuse that is handed out to all Traffic Wardens.
Undercover...you've let everyone know.
Clever!!”
by Steve, Tewkesbury
Monday, February 15 2010, 1:53PM
“Which wardens Cheltenham, Gloucester, UK or is it someone in Tewkesbury?
Your comment is going to really scare them soooo much - not.
Keep up the good work parking in the wrong place so you can keep giving the council all your cash.”
by gloucestershire county council, gloucester
Monday, February 15 2010, 12:42PM
“They better watch out as there is going to be a undercover clampdown on these wardens over the next 6-8 weeks”
by Dave, Cheltenham
Monday, February 15 2010, 12:03PM
“Bob, Tewkesbury
Stephs in Cheltenham is right.
You're talking nonsense.
You say nearly all the the streets have alley ways. NB: key word - Nearly.
You are responsible for parking your car not the wardens. If you know they hide then why are you daft enough to park in the wrong place?
Take a chance and get caught,then you only have yourself to blame.
Are you really saying that on a Sunday there was no other place to park but a taxi bay?
No, it's because your lazy and inconsiderate
It's your own fault. (Heee Heee).
You're not a taxi...DER!!
I pity your lack of common sense or is it because you are inconsiderate/selfish? I would guess it's one of the latter.
You deserve the to get a ticket.”
by Bob, Tewkesbury
Monday, February 15 2010, 11:00AM
“Steph, Cheltenham
Obviously you do not know Tewkesbury as there are alley ways on that Street as of nearly all the streets in Tewkesbury have. I for one received a parking ticket on a Sunday for parking in a Taxi rank while I popped in to Sommerfields to pick up 2 items was 3 mins tops. On returning I was told that the traffic warden watched me park & then booked me straight away. Many of times have I seen them hiding in ally ways especially by One Stop by the cross while I stop to let my mate buy paper & fags. They cant book me then as I have not left my van but they are waiting for easy pickings. So Steph please get to know Tewkesbury better, perhaps you should take some time and look at all the alley ways Tewkesbury have, BUT PLEASE DON'T TAKE TO LONG as you may over stay and get your very own TICKET.”
by Dave, Tewkesbury
Monday, February 15 2010, 10:54AM
“jan, tewkesbury
What do yo mean Halfords will lose alot of good will?
You don't run a business on good will!
It's Halfords car park for Halfords customers only.
I guess Halfords want the free car park spaces available to Halfords customers.
Blame the public that abused the use of car park not Halfords.”
by jan, tewkesbury
Monday, February 15 2010, 10:15AM
“Now Halfords have got in on the act.now,unless you can find a spot at Back of Avon or in the high street,both of which are not easy,there is nowhere to park if you want to visit just one or two shops.i object to paying £1 for 10 minutes.I think Halfords will lose alot of good will as well as an empty car park as Saturday morning there were only 3 cars in there when I was in town.”
by Steph, Cheltenham
Monday, February 15 2010, 10:10AM
“Bob, Tewkesbury - There are no alleyways on that street.
Hiding down alleyways, what's that got to do with drivers parking in the wrong place?
Bob.... me thinks you are not being honest.
They do a good job, there is more chance in getting free parking than before.
Find something better to do than watching traffic wardens.”
by Bob, Tewkesbury
Sunday, February 14 2010, 10:43PM
“He should have looked up the alley ways, thats where they lay in wait to pounce n their pray.
I ave seen this many of a time.”