Outcry as traffic wardens ticket people marking charity event
Outcry as traffic wardens ticket people marking charity event
Newport City Council say their visit had been in the calendar for several weeks
Newport City Council traffic wardens were pictured on Saturday, June 7, fining people parked in bays in The Fosse in Caerleon
A Welsh council has been slammed online for sending ticket wardens into a community during a massive charity event for St David's Hospice.
Newport City Council traffic wardens were pictured on Saturday, June 7, fining people parked in bays in The Fosse in Caerleon. That day the small village was hosting one of city's biggest charity events, the Dalmatian Bike Ride, as well as a cricket match, and an event at the local rugby club. Newport City Council say their visit has been in the calendar for several weeks and it was not scheduled in accordance with the community's agenda.
"On Saturday in the quiet community of Caerleon we have hundreds of visitors celebrating a host of different events and causes," said Caerleon resident Jon Shine.
"We have the Caerleon RFC mini and juniors rugby club 'thank you' event for the coaches and contributors who give their time for free supporting our children week in week out. We have the cricket club playing a game with visitors to our village. We have hundreds of cyclists riding to raise money for St David's Hospice with the Dalmatian bike ride.
"All have parked alongside the council pitches carefully and responsibly in all and any available spaces whilst they give something back to both charity and the community which Newport council is elected to represent.
"Newport Council then send out a traffic warden to book those attending these events which is nothing short of a disgrace.
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"Maybe you should focus your attention on the potholes, electric charging spaces which have never been operational, filthy streets, and antisocial behaviour before screwing these people who are actually giving back to the community you are meant to represent – hang your heads."
Raising money for St David's Hospice Care, participants of the Dalmatian Bike Ride cycled 18, 39, 45, 59, and 101km routes around Newport with some participants going as far as Bannau Brycheiniog on the day. Never miss a Newport story by subscribing to our newsletter here.
All routes arrived back at The Priory Hotel and Restaurant, which has been supporting the bike ride for many years, where they hosted a festival and barbecue.
Parking at the venue is limited and so attendees opted to park in the free parking outside the amphitheatre and Caerleon Rugby Club.
As it was a Saturday there were sports games at the rugby club and parking became even more of a struggle. This led to some drivers using the parking bays designated for coaches as well as parking in disabled spaces and outside of parking bays. The council say it was their duty to enforce these parking offences.
A spokesman for the authority said: "Our civil parking enforcement team were not aware of any events taking place in Caerleon beforehand.
"This area was simply part of their patrol rota which had been scheduled several weeks ago. We're always happy to work with event organisers to provide advice and guidance on parking.
"We also have a duty to enforce parking regulation, so that everyone has the opportunity to park safely and, if required, in a designated bay without obstructing other vehicles. On Saturday we issued 12 penalty charge notices on Broadway.
"Six of these were issued to vehicles not displaying a valid disabled badge, which would be required for where they were parked. Three were issued to vehicles parked outside of a marked parking bay.
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"The other three were issued to vehicles parked in bays reserved for specific vehicles such as a bus/coach."
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