Now its NOT the Mayor of Sunderland in a Parking row

... it was someone else.

After receiving a communication (and a Christmas Card) from Les the (Sunderland) Mayor we can now happily clarify the report which had appeared recently in the Keswick Reminder.

The report of a couple of weeks ago has been 'corrected' in the 7th December 2007 edition of the Keswick Reminder headed "Car Parking Issue Clarified" and the newspaper's Editor apologises profusely and unreservedly to Sunderland City Council and 'Les the Mayor' for any inconvenience and distress their newspaper report may have caused.

The picture on the left is of a car as it appeared on the front page of the Keswick Reminder.

The newspaper had intimated in its report that the vehicle belonged to Sunderland City Council and that it was on Mayoral business.

As we blogged the report we asked for confirmation as to whether the report was correct and this has now arrived ... and that the car had been hired by Cumbria County Council for Chairman Alan Toole to travel to and from the Mayor of Allerdale's annual tour.

The driver has since apologised for his inconsiderate parking and states that he will ensure that it will not happen again.


Meanwhile, Les insists that as a pennance for reporting on the Keswick Reminder's error that I join him in the Boxing Day Dip ... and I will endeavour to do so. However, as I am due to go into hospital for ankle reconstruction surgery tomorrow movement way be a little restricted. Perhaps he can pick me up.

I will give Les a ring to ensure that he will hold my crutch but hats off to him for his continued work in his role as Mayor ... he has commanded a great deal of respect from many across the City who have commented on the way he has slipped so easily into the role.