Wardens spotted issuing tickets in the snow (From Times Series)
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Wardens spotted in Mill Hill issuing tickets in the snow
4:57pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in Top Stories By Hannah Raven
Parking wardens were spotted ticketing cars in Mill Hill on Saturday night, despite the adverse weather conditions.
Stephen Bourne, 60, watched in "disbelief" as a parking warden photographed and placed a ticket on a car at 9.15pm, while snow fell thickly to the ground.
Mr Bourne, who was inside a restaurant in Mill Hill Broadway at the time, said: "It was unbelievable. With snow thick on the ground you couldn’t even tell where the legitimate parking spots were.
"My friend and I were astonished. I think it’s disgraceful."
Temperatures on Saturday night fell below zero and snow fell for six hours, leaving a blanket five inches deep across London.
Mr Bourne added: "The whole of the Broadway was covered in snow. If the gritters were out, I didn’t see them. It was like the Arctic.
"Parking was not impacting on anyone that night, everyone was just trying to endure the conditions."
Barnet Council confirmed two tickets were issued to vehicles parked in a bus lane in the Broadway on Saturday night and that wardens worked until 9.30pm, although they usually operate until 11pm.
The council added that if motorists park in bus lanes or on double yellow lines they will still be issued with a penalty charge notice. Weather conditions are taken into account if a motorist wants to challenge a parking ticket.
Barnet Council said that the main roads, including Mill Hill Broadway, were gritted and that road markings should have been visible.
Comments(10)
MrMustard
says...
5:35pm Thu 9 Feb 12
This is an example of what the council call "Putting the community first"
BarnetTrader
says...
6:37pm Thu 9 Feb 12
nlygo
says...
10:48pm Thu 9 Feb 12
however there are bus stops which drivers should not park at or near, so if they were ticketed at a bus stop, they have only themselves to blame
james smyth
says...
11:38pm Thu 9 Feb 12
Also they need to learn the parking rules and stop giving out invalid tickets,who the un informed pay instead of appealing.
If there is a parking bay or motorcycle only bay or disabled bay or even a loading bay that despite being marked on the road on white letters does NOT have a sign indicating the exact hours and days that that bay is operated THEN you are legally allowed to park there without buying a ticket or paying to by phone AND you cannot be given a penalty notice because if YOU cannot see what times it is a loading bay etc nor can the council and therefore THEY have to cancel the ticket
ken4
says...
2:36pm Fri 10 Feb 12
It is just another incidence of the motorist being a money cow for the parking authorities.The admission that the parking attendants finished duty because of the weather @9.30pm instead of 11.00pm means that anyone parking and contravening alleged restrictions after 9.30pm were not penalised. The tickets issued should be cancelled in good faith.
michieB
says...
3:46pm Fri 10 Feb 12
Have they not even got a heart??
Grumblepop
says...
5:22pm Wed 15 Feb 12
No pictures showing on the Barnet Parking website. Some day I hope to get a picture of that incident and post it on the web just to show this use of power by a traffic warden. I do hope the owner has challenged it and sent an apology from Barnet. No surprise the department is being outsourced
james smyth
says...
10:16pm Wed 15 Feb 12
They may of had the badge displayed on the wrong side ?
or it may of been out of date ?
even it may of been revoked ?
it may of overstayed the limit for parking
Im not saying the wardens are brilliant but unless you know the full and concise facts ,then you should reserve judgement
Grumblepop
says...
7:08pm Sat 18 Feb 12
One would not embarass an official correctly enforcing the law in the performance of his duties.
The wise are instructed by reason; ordinary minds by experience; the stupid, by necessity; You felt it necessary, as you so often do
james smyth says...
5:28pm Thu 9 Feb 12