A traffic warden sparked outrage in a seaside town – by giving parking fines to the crew of a RNLI lifeboat while they were at sea dealing with an emergency.
The four volunteers for the Weymouth RNLI in Dorset had legally parked their vehicles close to the lifeboat station so they could respond to the shout quickly.
Despite having valid parking permits – which cost £2,000 a year each – and an RNLI lifeboat crew sticker displayed in their windscreens, a council traffic warden still issued them with £100 fines.
The RNLI crew spent four hours dealing with the 999 call to assist three paddle boarders reported to be in difficulty in Portland Harbour.
They returned to the quayside station to find four cars – a silver BMW, a grey Mitsubishi, a white Citroen van and a blue VW Transporter – had yellow parking fines pinned to their windscreens.
A traffic warden sparked outrage in a seaside town – by giving parking fines to the crew of a RNLI lifeboat while they were at sea dealing with an emergency
Despite having valid parking permits – which cost £2,000 a year each – and an RNLI lifeboat crew sticker displayed in their windscreens, a council traffic warden still issued them with £100 fines
The RNLI crew spent four hours dealing with the 999 call to assist three paddle boarders reported to be in difficulty in Portland Harbour. Pictured: File photo of RNLI working in Kent
According to a witness, when challenged the traffic warden claimed the RNLI sticker and the council-issued permits could have been forgeries.
RNLI crew member Leon Weaver said: ‘Thanks Dorset Council for issuing 4 volunteer lifeboat crew’s vehicles with parking tickets whilst on an emergency call out, even with permits on the windscreens which they charge us £2,000 a year for.
‘The traffic warden stated that anyone could have printed the RNLI crew stickers, signs and council issued permits so they will just have to contest them, not my problem.’
Nick Critchell, a spokesperson for the Weymouth RNLI, said: ‘Parking in the town is always difficult especially in the holiday season, but we do have parking permits for on-street parking for the guys to park on the streets in that area.
‘We always display the RNLI crew on-a-shout stickers as well as the permit just in case one doesn’t get seen.
‘As far as I am aware the cars were parked where they should have been while they dealt with a potential catastrophe at sea. They weren’t on yellow lines or in and disabled bays.
‘This was an emergency and they parked as close to the station as they could.
‘Our aim is to launch the lifeboat within 10 mins of being asked to by the coastguard. If we have to park further away then that is going to cause more delay with cold costs lives.’
They returned to the quayside station to find four cars – a silver BMW, a grey Mitsubishi, a white Citroen van and a blue VW Transporter – had yellow parking fines pinned to their windscreens
According to a witness, when challenged the traffic warden claimed the RNLI sticker and the council-issued permits could have been forgeries. Pictured: File photo of RNLI lifeboat
Paul Norman said: ‘So the council are trying to charge lifeboat crew TWICE for going to sea to rescue people – once for a permit and again by not recognising the permit. Immoral or just money grabbing?
Tina Weaver said: ‘Absolutely disgusting you’re all risking your life’s to help save people and this is what you get in return. I have no words!!!
Merv Sharp: ‘Just hope that the person who issued the tickets will not be relying on the RNLI to rescue any of his/her family.’
Reg Strathearn said: ‘Totally disgraceful of a jobsworth warden.
A spokesperson for Dorset Council said: ‘We are sorry for any distress or confusion this has caused. This was an unfortunate error, and we cancelled the tickets as soon as the mistake was brought to our attention.
‘We are contacting the RNLI to apologise, and will remind our team about the agreement with the RNLI so this does not happen again.’