Traffic wardens ‘told to ignore part of street’

A traffic warden who ticketed a van but ignored illegally parked cars on the opposite side of the road told the owner: “I have only been told to police this side of the street.”
By Paul Berentzen
Published 14th Jul 2014, 14:00 BST
Clinton and Elaine Walker, who run the Candy Shack and Castaway shops on Poulton Road, Fleetwood, claim parking regulations are being unfairly enforced on the street. Photo: Rob LockClinton and Elaine Walker, who run the Candy Shack and Castaway shops on Poulton Road, Fleetwood, claim parking regulations are being unfairly enforced on the street. Photo: Rob Lock
Clinton and Elaine Walker, who run the Candy Shack and Castaway shops on Poulton Road, Fleetwood, claim parking regulations are being unfairly enforced on the street. Photo: Rob Lock

Clinton Walker, who runs catalogue returns store Castaway on Poulton Road, Fleetwood, was shocked to find he was being penalised while other motorists – parked just yards away – were getting away with breaking the rules.

The 51-year-old uses his van for work but was caught breaking the ‘no returning within two hours’ rule on the road.

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He said: “On one side of the road we are having to pay fines but someone could park all day on the other side and get away with it.”

While he admits breaking the rules in the parking bay outside his shop, he said the same rules should apply to cars parked across the street – where signs show the exact same restrictions are in place.

Lancashire County Council, which is responsible for on-street parking enforcement, said wardens had been told to stop policing part of the street while maintenance work took place – but insist normal service has now been resumed.

Mr Walker added: “I have had to sell my van because I can’t park it on my forecourt.

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“I now have to pay a local man and van to drop off my goods because of the parking problems.

“There’s nowhere to park nearby. It’s all double yellow lines.

“I was having to leave the van half a mile away – I can’t carry the heavy goods that far.”

Mr Walker’s wife Elaine, who runs the sweet shop next door, Candy Shack, said: “We have got nowhere to park – surely we should have parking permits or something.”

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Having put up with parking issues for six years, the couple claim finding out the rules aren’t being enforced equally was the last straw for them.

The Walkers live and work on the street, but the parking restrictions mean they have difficulty leaving a vehicle nearby for any length of time.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: “Parking enforcement was temporarily suspended on small sections of Poulton Road while we waited for our engineers to complete maintenance works on the parking restrictions.

“This work has now been completed and full enforcement is in effect throughout the area.”

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