Council in U-turn over £60 ticket for hearse

COUNCIL chiefs have performed a U-turn on a £60 fine which was slapped on a hearse parked outside a funeral director’s premises.

Steven Stewart could not believe he received a fine for parking the hearse outside the parlour while waiting to transport a coffin.

Mr Stewart, from Cupar, Fife, appealed the fine he received last month and while Fife Council initially refused to drop it, they agreed to rescind the parking ticket just after Christmas.

He said: “This is a victory for common sense. I had the hearse parked outside my funeral parlour while I was transporting a recently deceased to Kirkcaldy.

“I admit that I was there for longer than I should have been, but everyone knows it is a funeral vehicle.

“I was prepared to pay the £60 fine if I had to, but always said I would give the money to charity if my appeal was successful. I am happy to be giving it to Age Concern in Cupar.”

Local councillor Bryan Poole intervened on Mr Stewart’s behalf, saying that the fine was “absolutely ridiculous”. Tony McRae, lead professional for the council’s professional, parking and public transport infrastructure management, previously said the fine was valid.

He said: “We are aware of this case. We have also clarified that the vehicle was not a hearse, but a private estate car which was unmarked.

“The council’s parking attendant issued the fine correctly at the point of issue.

“Although the first appeal was rejected the council remains sensitive to such issues and will happily consider any evidence that is submitted at the next stage of the appeal process.”