Kentish Express Ashford & District
Villagers’ fury over parking ticket for market fish van
Stunned stallholders and villagers watched on as a “ridiculous and stupid” parking ticket was issued to a trader in the middle of Wye Farmers’ Market.
Frankie Botterell, whose family run the Botterells fish merchants in Rye, said she could not believe the ticket that was issued on Saturday morning.
The insulated van was slapped with a parking ticket for being on a restricted single yellow line despite the road being closed for the market and Mrs Botterell saying she has permission from the market to park there because she needs to keep the fish fresh.
The Botterells have traded at the market for the past 12 years and say they have never experienced anything like it before.
She said: “We’ve always parked the car by our stall because we do fresh fish and we keep spare boxes in the van.
“It’s an insulated van and it keeps them wonderfully cool and the fish stays fresh.
“I’m very surprised that we’ve been given a ticket. It came totally out of the blue and quite honestly we can’t operate here without the van beside the stall.”
Villagers and traders were aghast when the Ashford Borough Council parking officer started issuing Mrs Botterell a ticket.
Many approached the officer in disbelief to ask why he was issuing a ticket but the officer replied that they were being filmed by the camera placed on his chest and warned them about what they said to him.
Mrs Botterell said she would appeal the ticket and was encouraged by the support she had received from her colleagues and customers.
She added: “Fortunately, everyone who has come to the market has been up in arms because they can’t believe anything could be so stupid. Nobody can understand how we’ve got a ticket. The road is closed for the market. He didn’t actually give me a reason to be perfectly honest.
“I was totally unaware until someone alerted me. We will appeal of course and I’m sure people here in Wye will back us up.”
She added they will be contacting the farmers’ market committee for its advice and help in appealing the fine.
Was the traffic warden just doing his job or should the ticket be rescinded? Write to Kentish Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford, Kent, TN24 8JR or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup. co.uk