Firefighter in response car fined £60 for turning round at EMA garage

A FIREFIGHTER says he was made to pay a £60 fine for turning his response car around at a garage near East Midlands Airport – and had his appeal rejected more than a year later.

Ian Moore, station manager at Durham, said he was on his way to a meeting at Castle Donington on January 22 last year when he accidentally took a wrong turn. He used the BP garage to stop and reset his satnav, taking a few seconds, and did not get out of his blue-light response car.

Mr Moore says the car was on the forecourt for 23 seconds in total but, despite this, a ticket still arrived a few days with a £60 fine for stopping in a “no stop” zone.

Mr Moore, 48, said: “The satnav took us to a dead end. There was a pay-as-you-go car park, but because we weren’t flying anywhere I just pulled into the garage, reset the satnav and went back.”

Mr Moore appealed against the fine straight away, attempting to explain the circumstances to Vehicle Control Services, who issue the penalties. But more than a year later, he was told his appeal had been rejected and Mr Moore paid the fine.

There have been numerous complaints from motorists who received similar fines at the garage.

“It was my work vehicle,” he continued. I was driving, so I felt obliged to pay. Charging fire services for turning around on a garage forecourt when we are supposed to be there protecting the public is incredible and I can’t believe they are allowed to get away with it.”

A spokesperson for Vehicle Control Services Ltd said: “The terms and conditions for prohibiting vehicles from parking stopping on Red Route roadways and access roads are clearly set out on numerous signs located around the airport road network and specifically the fuel station area.

“We are satisfied the charge was issued correctly.”