Richmond Council defends 'spy' car parking on double yellow lines (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)
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Richmond Council defends 'spy' car parking on double yellow lines
2:10pm Friday 19th March 2010 in
This was the moment a council car used to catch law-breaking motorists was caught breaking the very rules it is meant to enforce.
Tom Galvin, of Hampton Wick, spotted the Richmond Council Smart car stopped on double yellow lines in Broad Street, Teddington, at about 8am last Wednesday.
The managing director of Chiswick-based property maintenance firm Adrem took this snap – which is likely to leave law-abiding motorists more than a little miffed.
He said if they do not allow flexibility for residents who sometimes parked illegally for short periods they should not be entitled to it either.
He said: “I have no gripe with the council, it does a good job generally – it is a difficult job trying to keep [everyone] happy. But I feel we are watched and picked up on for every little misdemeanour, when you get a ticket from this [car] it feels like you have been mugged and there is a hypocrisy to it.”
Mr Galvin said many of his staff were often handed fines for going about their daily business.
Councillor David Trigg, Richmond Council, cabinet member for traffic, transport and parking, defended the car stopping where it did and said it had dispensation to do so briefly when necessary.
He added: “In this instance the car saw evidence of a vehicle which had been parked illegally on a double yellow line in Broad Street, Teddington.
“In order for the civil enforcement officer driving the CCTV car to take this evidence safely, he had to stop on the double yellow line, or he would have blocked traffic.
“He had moved away again within three minutes. The council runs a firm, but fair, parking enforcement service. Motorists should be aware of parking restrictions which are either signposted or obvious through double yellow lines.
“We aim for a fair enforcement policy and we will always give full attention to any appeals made.”
Comments(13)
alex twickenham
says...
4:18pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Who does he think he's still kidding? Everyone now knows that its just another stealth tax, so isn't it better just to put up, pay up and vote him and his LibDem chums out of power on May 6th?
These people have been in power for so long that I fear they have forgotten their party mantra. " . . working for you, all the year round!" Their words, not mine. Perhaps they would do well to reflect on the words of Lord Acton in 1887: "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Time for change? I certainly hope so.
Alex
MacGregor
says...
11:35pm Fri 19 Mar 10
PeterTeddington
says...
9:56am Sat 20 Mar 10
MacGregor
says...
11:29am Sat 20 Mar 10
As I’ve said before, why not redeploy this Stasi-style spy camera to do something useful – like checking out the proliferation of pot holes that are peppering side roads that is the responsibility of the council.
kingpin
says...
7:18pm Sat 20 Mar 10
Phillip Taylor
says...
8:10pm Sat 20 Mar 10
The Liberals are all talk about the 'consultations' they hold here which are pre-determined, self-serving rubbish and yet Trigg does not bother to answer his critics in any way, shape or form. It's pathetic that he has to use you to attack the Tories in this squalid way.
Personally, I would be delighted to ask for the car to be scrapped if I were ever elected to the Council as I feel big brother has moved into this borough in a big way. I would also scrap the ACMs which are a waste of space and just a "Liberal love in" on the Council tax.
Phillip Taylor
kingpin
says...
10:33pm Sat 20 Mar 10
PeterTeddington
says...
2:31am Sun 21 Mar 10
Sanity99
says...
12:07pm Mon 22 Mar 10
11:29am Sat 20 Mar 10
PeterTeddington – in an ideal world nobody would ever do anything that contravenes man made laws so there would be no need of a police force. We don’t live in an ideal world..."
Well, I don't pay any of these fines as I respect the laws of the land. It could be a more perfect world if others followed my lead. If people were better-mannered, we'd need less laws and less police. This would save us all a fortune. I'm sick of stupid neologisms like 'cash cow' and 'stealth tax' being used as synonyms for 'You got me bang to rights for breaking the law and being overtly anti-social.
MacGregor
says...
8:03pm Mon 22 Mar 10
Sanity99,Twickenham – I have never had a ticket on double-yellow lines in Teddington. My concern is for others and the unfairness of being persecuted by this disproportionate, draconian, and spiteful war on motorists. You think these motorists are “anti-social”. What I term “anti social” is yobs who graffiti around the borough, and vandalise property and cars – do why doesn’t the council redeploy their Stasi-style spy car on them?
PeterTeddington
says...
10:40pm Mon 22 Mar 10
MacGregor
says...
7:55pm Tue 23 Mar 10
And for your information, the Metropolitan Police don’t act in isolation from London councils. There are Safe Neighbourhood Teams – known as SNTs – and they act in consultation with the council, and councillors. Check this out:
http://www.richmond.
gov.uk/home/policing
_and_public_safety/c
rime_and_law_enforce
ment/local_police/sa
fer_neighbourhood_te
ams.htm
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Snapped: Richmond Council's 'spy' car parked on double yellows. Pic: Tom Galvin
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Julie Hill says...
3:27pm Fri 19 Mar 10
I was "done" by the spy car just before Christmas (season of goodwill) for parking for less than 30 seconds at 0815 at a weekend, in order to carry heavy items into a laundrette. Not believing his luck at chancing upon another victim, the driver abruptly halted - on double yellow lines, periscope popped up and took the shot then zoomed off.
"Firm but fair parking enforcement service". I don't think so.