Success over town parking row

A Shropshire window cleaner has won the first round of his battle against parking enforcers who want him to pay for a waiver ticket to park in areas he has used without a problem for 30 years.

Kim Downer, of Baschurch, was told he would have to pay a waiver, costing him £5 a day, as part of a season ticket, to prevent his van being targeted by wardens.

But after holding talks with highways authority Shropshire County Council and enforcement agency ParkRight, Mr Downer has been told he can operate for another six weeks without incurring the wrath of the parking wardens in Shrewsbury.

He has been issued with an official "consent to park," running until May 5, and is calling for a register of vehicles on regular maintenance duty to operate without payment.

Mr Downer said he flatly rejected suggestions he could pay a lesser than normal waiver fee, pointing out that council vehicles on maintenance duty did not have to pay.

Mr Downer, who has spent the past 30 years cleaning the windows of shops, offices and pubs throughout Shrewsbury town centre, said he needed his van to carry heavy ladders, particularly in the early mornings.He said today: "They suggested that I should pay a lower rate than the laid-down waiver charges but I refused.

"I said I had been operating for 30 years without a problem.

"I know where to park my van without causing any hindrance."

Mr Downer will meet officials again towards the end of next month when his suggestions for a register of exempt vehicles will be considered.

A ParkRight spokeswoman said: "The traffic regulations do not allow traders such as window cleaners to use a loading bay as the vehicle has to be loading.

"Therefore we have proposed a trial scheme to allow Mr Downer to operate by using only pay & display bays to carry out his window cleaning using a free permit for six weeks.

"After this period the trial will be evaluated."