
stolen from the south wales evening post...
DRIVER'S FURY OVER PARKING TICKETS ROW
9 readers have commented on this story. Click here to read their views.
RICHARD YOULE
RICHARD.YOULE@SWWMEDIA.CO.UK
09:00 - 24 August 2007
A Furious motorist is demanding to be reimbursed for hundreds of pounds' worth of parking tickets issued on a road police say should be exempt from parking charges.Mumbles lifeboat crew member Rob Jenkins said he has received between 15 and 20 tickets over the past 18 months after leaving his car on Castle Road beyond the specified one-hour time limit.
But police said on Wednesday that parking restrictions could not be enforced there because of incorrect signage. That has been denied by Swansea Council, who yesterday said the signs looked okay.
The police claimed the traffic restrictions on the road were unenforceable after a traffic warden had been spotted leaving his Ford Focus there all day while going around the village checking on other cars.
They said he hadn't done anything wrong, and that other motorists should not be ticketed for leaving their cars there either.
However, Mr Jenkins has had to stump up well over £500.
"I'm normally very level-headed, but I'm boiling," he said.
"In the past 18 months I have had 15 to 20 parking tickets in the spot where the warden was parking.
"My business was next door, in Newton Road, and I needed my car close by in case there was a call-out from the lifeboat station.
"I have no problem paying for the tickets. But if this warden does not have to pay, it's completely wrong."
Mr Jenkins said he wrote to the police after receiving one ticket asking if they would consider giving him special dispensation because he was a member of the lifeboat crew.
But they replied, saying if they allowed him to park there they would have to do the same for all other emergency workers.
In yesterday's statement to the Post, South Wales Police explained why the traffic warden had not done anything wrong.
"Some of the signage and road markings in the Mumbles area are not compatible with the Traffic Legislation Order, which means that we, the police, cannot enforce the law in these areas," said a spokeswoman.
"When there is a fault with signage, the police report it to the local authority, in accordance with the Traffic Legislation Order, for them to carry out the necessary work.
"We referred this matter to the authority more than two years ago.
"This traffic warden was, therefore, not committing an offence because this road is one of the defective roads, and any member of public that has parked on a defective road within the last two years can be assured that they, too, have not been issued with a parking ticket."
She added that Castle Avenue and Queens Road also had the same faulty signs.
Hundreds of motorists could now launch an appeal against parking tickets that have been dished out to them on the roads.
But Swansea Council said it was not aware of the problem.
A spokesman said: "It is normal practice for the local police, who have responsibility for enforcing parking restrictions, to inform us of any issues relating to signage and traffic orders.
"However, in this case we are not aware of any issues.
"We are currently investigating the locations the Evening Post has highlighted.
"If there are any faults or irregularities then the necessary amendments will be made."
He added: "An officer has been there to inspect the signs and said they were enforceable."
Your Views
I think that Adrian Lewis is totally missing the point of the issue, Rob Jenkins needs his car close at hand in case he is called out to deal with an emegency,Adrian lewis obviously has a gripe because he has to pay to park his car, why shouldn't he? the disabled area's to park are located closer to amenities, this doesn't mean that it should be free parking, that's what running a car is all about!! come on give Rob Jenkins a chance he is offering his service to the RNLI for nothing.
Jim Hopkin, Swansea
what the hell is up with this world ,for god sake the man is on standby for the lifeboat,and as with all 999 calls you state that seconds saves lives but you give this man a ticket for parking when he will drop is own income to save a life free of charge, and if you dont understand that message i will spell it out loud ! SECONDS SAVES LIVES ,wake up
eric shire, wirral
totally agree that if the lifeboat crew are on a job they should be able to park without some jobsworth sticking a ticket on their car.the crew at cleethorpes have designated parking so come on you councillors get it sorted, remember one day it might be one of your family that need the services of the RNLI
trevor stockdale, grimsby
This is sickening man - c'mon these people are selfless heroes and put our lives and safety above their own, Swansea council, you should be ashamed - REALLY ASHAMED. There should be parking dispensation for all emergency workers who are on call. Get your act together before it's one of your own who needs to be rescued.
Mark Owen, Stockport
Adrian, I am disabled too.Everytime i get a chance i am taken to Mumbles.I don`t mind paying for parking.I`m there for enjoyment. The RNLI should be allowed free parking,( or even a special area, where only they can park) Lifeboat personnel are there to save lives.Seconds count, maybe someone you know would need their services one day.That`s how i always look at it.Imagine the uproar if someone drowned because parking their vehicles took far too long. i think the council should give back the money Robert has paid them too. Thank goodness we have people like Robert always there to protect people enjoying themselves.I thank you all
carol ann, swansea
We need these guys,and girls, so come on Swansea, give them a break, free parking for the lifeboat crew, Lives are saved throught their generosity. Manic Mumbles parking is awful during the summer months anyway.
carol, swansea
I am a disabled driver and i got to pay to park whenever i am in Mumbles, as there is no consession for blue badge users. I believe that if disabled drivers have to pay then every other driver has to pay, not one rule for one and a different rule for others. (radiokaos)
Adrian Lewis, Port Talbot
yet again, more evidence that enforcement officers are above the law themselves. If they can park there for no penalty, then the general public should be able to also. I also fully support that lifeboat crew should be exempt from parking fines.
miles thomas, clydach
lifeboatman charged for parking makes me sick come on swansea council get your own house in order.i know robert jenkins from a time i meet him in myc after going to thank horton lifeboat boy/girls for going out to try and save my late sons life.robert is a very level headed chap and he said to me that day something that got me into fundraising for the rnli and i thank rob for what he said to me.these guys are life savers and very good ones if these roads were even marked propley the rnli guys of mumbles should be exempt from parking tickets.mumbles is only a small village and at this time of year these guys need to park somewhere because if there pagers go off they need to get to the lifeboat station at a moments notice to go and save lives not to be slapped in the face with parking tickets.i hope you get your money back robert when these pen pushers realise there wrong
steven wood, morriston