Driven out by traffic wardens

Driven out by traffic wardens
Sunderland Echo
27th July 2005

AN angry shop owner says over-zealous traffic wardens have forced him to close his store after just one month.

Shoppers in Sunderland will have one less store to choose from when Beat The High Street shuts for good after its stock is sold off.Owner John Finn has put a big sign in the window of his furniture shop on High Street West, spelling out to customers and Sunderland Council – in no uncertain terms – his reasons for jacking in the business so soon after opening.The home-made sign reads: "Due to traffic wardens. Closing down. Goods less than cost. Nice one Sunderland.

"Mr Finn, from Hetton, told the Echo that customers and delivery drivers had been ticketed incessantly, without any leniency or common sense to allow for loading and unloading bulky goods at the store."The wardens are like breeding ants," he said. "When you get any deliveries they're straight out to the lorries issuing tickets."

Mr Finn said a female customer was left in tears last week after she was ticketed while a wardrobe she purchased was being brought from the shop's third floor, because he claimed the warden said there was no evidence of goods being loaded.

Mr Finn said he had had enough after watching wardens at work near the shop on Friday, and estimated they collected £2,000-worth of parking fines."They didn't give anybody any time to do anything. They just waited around the corner."He added: "They must be on commission to go to this extreme. "And they're absolutely over the moon when they give out a ticket. It's disgusting. "I told one that they were scaring people away from shopping in Sunderland – and they just laughed."

Mr Finn said his premises, which used to be a chippie, will stay empty and he will move to a retail park site."We've definitely finished here. And under no circumstances would I ever have a place in Sunderland city centre again."This is not about safety, it's purely a money-making scheme."

Traffic wardens are run by National Car Parks (NCP), on contract from the council. A council spokesman said: "Parking restrictions are in place in the interests of road safety and reduction of traffic congestion to make life easier and safer for pedestrians and road users alike, not to penalize business. "A well-managed road system contributes to the vitality of the city centre."He added: "Waiting restrictions are in place which allow loading and unloading for shops in High Street West, and there is also ample car parking spaces nearby for customers."

SINCE Sunderland traffic wardens were "privatised" in 2003 there has been a barrage of complaints from motorists, many highlighted in the Echo.They include amputee Harry Dixon, from Newbottle, who was given a ticket because his disabled badge "was on the wrong way round," according to parking chiefs.

A photographer, who had a "wedding party" sign in his car, got a ticket while he was filming nuptials at Sunderland Minster.

And Vision Bar, on Green Terrace, had its unique Smart car ticked three times while it was parked to be auctioned off for the Grace House Hospice Appeal.
27 July 2005