Exclusive by Alan Quick

DEVON County Council’s civil enforcement service has been branded “over zealous” after dozens of parking tickets were issued to vehicles parked on Crediton High Street and in other areas of the town on Bank Holiday Monday, January 2.

Local residents who had parked in Crediton High Street for the day, because all bar a few shops were closed, were ticketed by traffic wardens for parking in excess of the authorised 45-minute permitted parking.

Most local residents had, unfortunately, assumed that because it was a Bank Holiday, the 45-minute parking restriction would not apply.

Some, also, had parked in loading bays, assuming that because shops were closed, the loading bay restrictions would not apply.

One High Street resident, Roland “Reg” Barker, has written to Central Devon MP Mel Stride, highlighting the issue.

He wrote: “I am writing to you regarding the deployment of traffic wardens on bank holidays.

“I live in Crediton High Street and like most other residents made the most of the bank holidays over the festive period to park near my house.

“In my case this was especially useful as I am a Retained Firefighter and I was on call.

‘SURPRISE AND ANGER’

“You can’t imagine my surprise and anger on Bank Holiday Monday, January 2, to find my car and most others had been ticketed.

“On talking to the warden she explained bank holidays were not exempt from restrictions. Why then you ask, this letter?

“After all ignorance of the law is no excuse.

“My point is this, deploying a traffic warden on a bank holiday is as sensible as having lifeguards on duty when the pool is closed, with the difference the traffic warden made hundreds if not thousands for the council that day.

“I appreciate the work traffic wardens do normally. They stop people parking in loading bays so lorries don’t double park and cause congestion.

‘NOT AN ISSUE ON THE BANK HOLIDAY’

“They keep entrances free, they make sure people don’t leave their cars too long in restricted places so others can park to shop. In other words they act to keep traffic moving safely and to facilitate the smooth running of the town.

“None of these things were an issue on the bank holiday.

“I have photos showing the road was almost devoid of traffic. There were numerous empty parking spots, anyone could park anywhere in the high street. In my case I was parked in a loading bay.

“No lorries were loading that day because all the shops were shut. What then I ask is the justification in paying a traffic warden double time to be on duty except to make money for the council? Their role is not meant to be a revenue generating officer. 

“Please can you find out who decided it was necessary to do this and hold him or her to account after all the people who were ticketed were the very people who pay for the traffic wardens. I hope you can bring some pressure to bear to stop this sort of cynical money-making exercise. I have also been in contact with my local councillors and the press.”

’SHOCKED’

Tara Conabeare, chairman, Crediton Chamber of Commerce, said her and her husband Paul’s shop, Evans Newsagents, was open on January 2 for just five hours.

She said she was “shocked” to see the traffic warden issuing tickets and she and Paul rang those local residents they had telephone numbers for to advise them to move their cars.

Tara explained that because she has received so many complaints from local residents, some of whom are traders on the High Street, that the issue will be discussed at the next meeting of the Chamber on January 26.

COMPLAINTS

The Mayor of Crediton, Cllr Frank Letch, said that he had received complaints during his surgery at Crediton Farmers’ Market about “over zealous traffic warden dishing out parking tickets to the few cars parked on the High Street on the bank holiday.”

He said he would raise the issue at a forthcoming meeting of Crediton Town Council.

‘UNNECESSARY’

The County Councillor for Crediton, Nick Way, (LibDem, Crediton Rural) told the “Courier”: “I have spoken to the manager at County Hall concerning complaints I have received.

“He has told me that during the Bank Holiday in question the number of enforcement officers on duty was less than normal but Tiverton and Crediton were visited.

“Unfortunately, in my opinion, they acted not illegally but, nevertheless, all the shops were shut, no deliveries were made and the fact is I told him it was very unnecessary, even if able to so as normal practice.

“I said there should have been a lighter touch and they should consider the community.

“The department seem to be single-minded about it.

“I think people who received tickets should appeal during the required period to see if they can get them revoked and mention if there are any mitigating circumstances.”

Mr Way said he intends to pursue the issue about civil enforcement action on Bank Holidays and said he would be raising it with Devon County Council to review what it does on Bank Holidays, and also with Crediton Town Council.

Mr Barker, meanwhile, said he intends to pay his fine but to do so, he would make his payment on his own hand-painted cheque which expressed how he felt about the issue.

The painting, in red and yellow, shows his anger about the issue.

• Were you a victim of a parking ticket on Bank Holiday Monday, January 2 in Crediton? Do you think issuing tickets on a day when shops are closed is justified?

Share your views with fellow “Courier” readers. Write a letter to The Editorial Manager, “Crediton Courier”, 102 High Street, Crediton EX17 3LF or email your letter to: [email protected] .