Standards

GWYNEDD Council has been accused of “double standards” after one of its own vans was caught parked on double yellow lines just days after a woman was fined for stopping at the same spot,,

Suchitta Nuysay Chaplinaplin (inset) of Caernarfon waswas handed a £70 fixed penaltyty notice early on Sundayy morning after her car was found by Gwynedd enforcement officers to be parked on double yellow lines near her home on Chapel Street.

An appeal against thehe fine by Mrs Chaplin, whowho says she had no option butbut toto park on the double yellowow lineslines after finishing a 12 hour shifthif withih no other spaces near her home, was immediately rejected by council bosses.

But just days later on Tuesday, Ms Chaplin was furious to find a highway maintenance van belonging to thw authority parked-up on the same yellow lines.

When she complained to Gwynedd Council about the sighting, Ms Chaplin said she was told the driver would not face a fine as the vehicle was being “unloaded”.

She has now spoken out to accuse the authority of having “double standards”.

Gwynedd Council is investigating the matter. Ms Chaplin said: “Parking is a big problem in this part of Caernarfon, despite attempts in the past to set-up a residents parking scheme. “But to receive a parking ticket and then to see a council van parked there, it seemsseems likelike one rule for us and anotheranother for them. It’s not fair at all.”all.” PParking in Caernarfon towtown centre has become a hohot top in recent months. Some residents say cocommuters are repeatedly paparking outside their hohomes to swerve town cecentre charges. MMany have accused GwynGwynedd Council of making thethe proproblem worse after they startedstarted chargingch people to stop at theh formerlyfl ffree Shell car park on the outskirts of thw town centre. A Gwynedd Council spokesman said: “Double yellow line parking restrictions are operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Any motorist found to be flouting the rules will be subject to a parking ticket. “The only exception to this relates to vehicles which have pulled up temporarily to load and unload and of course emergency service vehicles.” They added: “Our parking officers have been made aware of Mrs Chaplin’s claims about the Council van and are looking into the matter.”