Builder wants to see parking permit rules changed after being fined for working on a house

Builder Kev Shand is calling on Rochdale Council to change its rules in relation to parking permits in areas around Hollingworth Lake after he received a parking ticket when working on a house.

Kev, from Smithy Bridge, says that workmen and delivery drivers should be exempt from the scheme, which is aimed at stopping drivers parking on surrounding streets.

Kev, who has been working in the area for 35 years has never received a ticket in the area since the scheme was introduced in 2012.

He said: “I was only there for about half an hour on the Monday and that is when I got the ticket. The guy who is usually around there knows me and often waves to me and reads into the situation, but this guy didn’t even bother to do that and didn’t seem to care that I was working on the house. He just issued the ticket.”

Kev was parked on Heald Close at the time and was completing a job for a 78-year-old woman. He was issued a £35 fine for being parked without displaying a permit.

“Since I got the ticket I have written to them to try and get it overturned and so has the customer I was doing the work for, but they aren’t having any of it. I think workmen and delivery drivers should be exempt. The scheme is set up to stop drivers blocking driveways and things and that is understandable but not when someone is there doing a job,” added Kev.

Kev has now taken legal advice on what to do next and thinks he will end up at a traffic penalty tribunal to discuss the ticket.

He added: “I have spoken to loads of people who agree with me that this should be changed. A BT engineer was telling me the other day that he almost got a ticket for a similar thing.”

Mark Widdup, Director of Economy and Environment at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “People who are working on properties in areas where a parking permit system is in operation can apply to the council for a special dispensation before they start work in the area. This will allow them to park without receiving a penalty notice.”