Window cleaner in parking row

A Shropshire window cleaner embroiled in a row over parking enforcement was handed another ticket today - despite being told he was exempt while he waits for an appeal hearing.Kim Downer, of Weston Lullingfields, near Baschurch, vowed that he would not pay the fine after he was ticketed while working in Roushill in Shrewsbury this morning.

The 62-year-old said he was angry the ticket had been issued as he had been given a waiver by ParkRight ahead of his appeal.

Although the waiver ran only from May 5 to June 27, Mr Downer said he was assured it would continue until the hearing, which has been postponed until the end of July.

The county council, which works in partnership with borough and district councils across the county on the ParkRight scheme, apologised for the ticket being issued and said it would be "automatically revoked".

Mr Downer's appeal is against a ParkRight ruling that he must pay waiver charges of £5 a day or £40 every 10 days if he is to continue using a van for his work, as he has done for the past 30 years.

He uses it to carry heavy extendible ladders for cleaning the windows of shops, offices and pubs in the town centre and says he carefully parks his van in non-obstructive locations without trouble.

Mr Downer said: "I was granted the waiver and told my appeal would be taking place some time in June.

"Then I was told that it had been put back to July. I expected that the waiver would continue to cover me until the appeal date or that a new one would be issued, but here I am again.

"This is another example of over-zealous activity by the ParkRight wardens."

Ron Buzzacott, Shropshire County Council's traffic manager, apologised,saying: "This trial should have been extended until the end of July so that it coincides with the Joint Parking Advisory Group meeting.

"Extended waivers are in the post to Mr Downer and his ticket will be revoked. I'd like to apologise for any inconvenience."

By John Kirk