Dozens of drivers hit by fines for parking in spaces for city taxis

FESTIVE revellers who parked in the city centre this Christmas have been hit with fines - for taking up taxi spaces.

Over the party season, 98 cars were ticketed for illegally parking in a taxi rank.

Fines are £35 if paid promptly - a significant add on to enjoying a night out in town.

The Council says the taxi ranks should only be used by the licensed Hackney Carriages (black cabs), which excludes use by ride-sharing apps such as Uber, and prebooked cars.

It advised residents to always read signs before they parked up.

A spokesman said: “You should always read the information on the signs as taxi ranks are put in place/amended by Traffic Management and not under taxi licensing legislation.”

One man caught out by the night time wardens was Neil Bradley, a Nuneaton resident who took his wife to dinner at the Skydome.

Mr Bradley had parked on Spon Street and then received a ticket.

He said: “Looking at the amount of people caught out by it there is no surprise people are bewildered.

“The only thing there is a sign about eight feet up a lamp-post, in very small letters, there are no yellow markings.”

Neil later had his fine quashed on a technicality because half his car was parked on Fleet Street.

The Council says its has 203 night-time spaces across the city.