A bus ticket? That’s ‘crazy’!

NUMBER 44 GETS SLAPPED WITH A FINE AS IT WAITS AT TOWN STOP

A BUS driver was given a parking ticket while at a bus stop.

The driver of the Centrebus number 44 was given the £70 fixed penalty at 9.03am on Monday in The Square, Market Harborough.

Operator Centrebus called the action “crazy” and has appealed the fine.

The company said the driver left the bus at the stop for a few minutes to get himself some food and drink.

Mick Rossiter, operations manager for Centrebus Leicester, said: “To ticket a bus in a bus stop is unbelievable, really, utterly ridiculous.

“Many of our services have lay-over time which requires buses to remain at bus stops for a short period of time.

“The driver has left it for a few minutes to get some lunch for later on in the day.

“During the pandemic our drivers are working very hard to get people around, along with the risks associated with it, and this is the last thing they need.”

Mr Rossiter said the number 44, which starts in Foxton and goes to Fleckney and outlying villages via the town centre, has been parking up at that spot for years.

“As long as I can remember the bus has been stopping there between 8.57am and 9.14am and there has never been a problem,” he said. “All of a sudden a driver gets a ticket. Crazy.

“He is angry about it and I am even angrier. It makes no sense to penalise him for doing his job serving the community.

“We have appealed the ticket.” Leicestershire County Council is responsible for parking enforcement. One of its staff issued the ticket.

Councillor Trevor Pendleton, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “Our parking officers are trained to observe parking offences and establish whether there is a legitimate reason for issuing a parking penalty. “In this instance, the bus was parked at a bus stop unattended and therefore a ticket was issued.

“Buses are permitted to stop in designated areas to allow passengers to board or exit the vehicle and there are designated bus stands available close by for buses not in service.

“Vehicle drivers/owners have the opportunity to appeal against penalties and all cases are considered on an individual basis.

“A written explanation is given when requests for cancellations are not accepted and drivers then have the option of appealing to an independent tribunal.”

It makes no sense to penalise him for doing his job serving the community

Mick Rossiter, Centrebus