Ambulance ticket sparks huge row
AN AMBULANCE being slapped with a parking ticket has sparked heated debate amongst M.E.N readers.
We reported yesterday how a parking firm apologised after a warden issued the emergency vehicle with a ticket due to it being parked on double yellow lines at a Cheshire shopping precinct.
The crew were nipping into a Tesco store to get some refreshments when they became embroiled in a row with a parking attendant about where they had left their vehicle.
They claimed the ambulance was too big to be parked in a bay, and that they were simply nipping to get some water having “not had anything to eat or drink” during a busy eight hour shift. But a video of the incident, captured by a bystander, showed the warden insisting if they were not responding to an emergency they would have to park in a designated bay like everyone else.
The firm has since apologised and rescinded the charge.
However hundreds upon hundreds of readers took to both our website, and our Facebook and Twitter pages, to give their view on the incident, which has split opinion.
The incident sparked fury with many feeling the warden was being over-zealous, disrespectful to our emergency crews and showing a lack of common sense.
Travelling Man commented on the article on our website saying : “Would the ambulance fit in the miniscule parking spaces provided? - Unlikely... So parking on double yellows is the only option.
Lack of training for the warden and lack of communication from the paramedics who perhaps if they’d spoken to the warden 1st would have said ‘Ok.’”
The firm who patrol the site, at Kingsmead in Northwich, Euro Parking Services, said in their apology that: “.... the ambulance service is very important to our community, we don’t want to hinder them and we’re very saddened by the situation.”
However, a surprising number of people came out in support of the warden, saying he was applying the rules as they stand and that even emergency workers should abide by the rules.
William Connolly said on our website: “Rules apply to everyone, she should get the ticket. The double yellow lines are there for a reason.”