Blatant parking abuse on town centre road — claim

FRUSTRATED motorists asked why drivers on Wellgate are seemingly given a free pass to park anywhere while tickets are quickly dished out in other areas.

Rotherham Council said 363 fines had been given out on the street so far this year, with 230 paid and a further 22 cancelled on appeal.

Wickersley resident Don Buxton said he found “blatant” violations on a trip along St Ann’s Road and Wellgate, with multiple cars on double yellow lines or obstructing the pavement.

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He added: “As a law-abiding Rotherham citizen and taxpayer, I resent the fact that other members of the Rotherham ‘community’ choose to ignore the rules, laws and customs that apply to us all.

“But most of all I believe that this culture of impunity is encouraged by RMBC parking services inability or reluctance to enforce the law, and to get a grip of the growing problem, possibly through a supposed fear of offending some minority or community.”

Bramley resident Rob Foulds said he had been considering buying a property on Wellgate.

He added: “I was surprised to discover that it didn’t automatically come with an exemption from parking control measures... you know, a ‘Park anywhere you want for as long as you like’ certificate. I found this rather disappointing.

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“The reason I have raised this issue is because that undeniably is the case and, anecdotally, many people I know emphatically support that observation.

“Some even consciously avoid the road because of the obstacle course it presents.

“The other reason I raise the Wellgate-gate affair, is the manner in which Rotherham Council selectively uses its powers of authority as a parking control agency.”

He added: “A specific example that prompted my attentiveness in this subject was due to a carer for my completely disabled wife being given a ticket by these parking operatives for parking outside of my house on Bawtry Road, which is a clearway.

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“She was, however, parked only on the slip road from the dual carriageway and in no way impeding the flow of traffic along the road or indeed along the slip road.

“So really it comes down to a matter of consistency and fairness and the evidential disparity in which Rotherham Council’s policy is administered.”

Tom Smith, RMBC assistant director for community safety and streetscene, said: “We take parking in contravention of the restrictions anywhere in Rotherham very seriously.

“The St Ann’s Road and Wellgate area form part of a daily inspection route for the council’s civil enforcement officers. Wellgate in particular is prioritised due to it being an important route into and out of the town centre.

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“The officers will take enforcement action when vehicles are observed to be parked in contravention of the prevailing restrictions.”

Mr Buxton said he was not impressed by the number of fines issued, which works out at little over one a day.

“The council may bask in the supposed glory of 363 tickets on Wellgate,” he added. “But taking off my shoes and socks and applying simple long ago taught sums to me, it does not reveal anything like the level of priority that you clearly imagine it to be.”