ANGRY football fans say their cars were targeted by a traffic warden during AFC Bournemouth’s Easter Monday game.
While supporters cheered Cherries on to a 2-0 win against Huddersfield, cars parked in Littledown Drive were receiving tickets.
Fans who contacted the Daily Echo said they assumed the restrictions – normally in force from Monday to Friday – did not apply because it was a Bank Holiday but the council said they were as any other Monday.
Mike Clark, 56, was shocked to come back and see a ticket on his and around 50 other cars.
“I could understand if I’d blocked someone’s drive or obstructed something. The council said the restrictions apply Monday to Friday, but it seems like a bit of sharp practice to me,” he said.
John Pike, 75, of Petersfield Road, saw his son Tony, who gave him a lift home, landed with a ticket. He said: “It’s no parking Monday to Friday but to me that means the working week.
“I’m all for parking restrictions to ease traffic but this thing is a money-grabbing exercise.”
Tony Wickham, 59, from New Milton, returned to find a ticket on his car.
He said: “It’s difficult to see what the restrictions are – there’s just a single yellow line there. I’m sure the letter of the thing is you should not have been there but it’s the attitude.
“It’s basically a way of making some money. I just think it was underhand.”
Marguerite Sibthorpe, who lives in Littledown Drive, said she was “horrified” to see the cars being targeted at just before 3pm when the restrictions ended a few minutes later.
“It seems very mean to have someone coming and dishing out tickets like that, especially on a Bank Holiday,” she said.
Margaret Leslie, operations manager for parking management and enforcement at the council, said Littledown Drive was part of a Controlled Parking Zone.
She added: “There is clear signage which states that no parking is permitted Monday to Friday between 11am and noon and 2pm and 3pm, this includes Bank Holidays.
“If any member of the public feels that they have been issued with a PCN incorrectly they should contact us in writing.”
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