FINE NINE NINE
Moment traffic warden tickets an AMBULANCE after paramedics stopped to get a drink
Passersby stopped to remonstrate with the parking officer, however he insisted that the emergency worker must be ticketed
THIS is the astonishing moment a parking attendant tickets an ambulance because paramedics stopped in the scorching heat to get a bottle of water.
The emergency vehicle was parked on double yellow lines outside a Tesco Express store in Northwich, Cheshire, yesterday.
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A bystander can be heard saying: "So you are giving a ticket to an ambulance that is on call... they were on call, if their radio goes they have to go."
However the parking attendant, wearing an LA baseball cap, says: "They are getting some food, so they are not on call are they?"
The parking worker then asks: "Where are the sirens? Where are the sirens?"
A medic, who was several hours into her shift, then asks the man where he would like her to park the vehicle.
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He says "the bay", however she explains that the ambulance does not fit in the bay.
She says: "I'm not being funny, I'm not going to use a disabled space... so where would you like me to park?
"I've been on since 6.45am this morning, I've had nothing to drink, nothing to eat.
"And now I'd like to go to Tesco to get some water."
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However the parking attendant continues to give them a ticket.
The video was uploaded onto Facebook after 10am on Tuesday by local man Ian French who was walking past at the time.
Walking away, the medic says: "If you ever need an ambulance..." while Mr French, still filming, says to the warden, "shame on you".
He later added on Twitter: "In the full video the parking warden says he is proud of what he has done."
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The firm which owns the car park outside the Tesco, London and Cambridge Properties (LCP), employs Euro Parking Services to manage the land for them.
A spokeswoman for LCP told The Sun Online: "As owners of Kingsmead Square, in Northwich, we are of course very disappointed to see that members of the emergency services have had an issue with a parking officer.
"LCP supports all of our emergency services, and their staff and vehicles are regular visitors to our shopping centres and retail parades across the UK, where they are always welcome.
"We employ Euro Parking Services (EPS) to manage the parking at Kingsmead Square to ensure that everyone that wants to shop can do so without any unnecessary hindrance while using the car park.
"On this occasion, we do not agree with the parking officer’s interpretation of the parking restrictions relating to emergency vehicles. A full review of the EPS contract will be undertaken at this site.
"In the meantime all enforcement and patrols at Kingsmead Square have been stopped and EPS will not be visiting site again pending completion of the review."
LETTER OF THE LAW: What is the law on where emergency vehicles can park?
As members of the public point out in the footage, the parking attendant in this case is wrong.
According to the law - set out in the Traffic Signs Regulations & General Directions 2002 - emergency vehicles may park on double yellow, white, or red lines.
Ambulance drivers are told they should always consider the safest place to park, however in the video the medic explains that her ambulance would not fit in the bay.
The law advises that drivers try and leave the area as soon as possible, however the parking attendant would not even allow them to pop in for a bottle of water on one of the hottest days of the year.
An ambulance may also exceed the speed limit if it safe to do so, however they are generally advised to go no quicker than 20mph above the speed limit of a road.
They may also use bus lanes.
Speaking after the incident, Mr French, 47, said: "I felt so strongly about the unfairness of what was happening that I started filming on my iPhone, hoping to bring attention to what was happening to the hardworking paramedics.
"I believe they were just collecting some food and water eight hours into their shift.
"It is a private parking firm working for the landlord, who I believe owns the car park and the businesses around it.
"The parking enforcement signs were only installed a few weeks ago. The locals are not happy about it, nor are some of the businesses."
A North West Ambulance spokeswoman told The Sun Online: “We are aware of the video circulating on social media showing a traffic warden issuing a ticket to one of our ambulance crews in Kingsmead, Cheshire.
“As yet, we have not received notification of a parking fine and should we do so, it will be dealt with through the usual process.”
On social media the parking attendant has been heavily criticised.
Chris Hawkins wrote: "I can’t believe this, the company needs to instruct their staff that emergency services are not in any circumstances be given a ticket.
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"That is just disgraceful behavior from this company, the sooner they change their policy the better."
Another added: "What a jobsworth... Completely the wrong attitude. Hasn't he got anything better to do because I'm damned sure she has. Like getting a well deserved drink!"
However some users said that the medics were in the wrong.
One user wrote: "If they are not on an emergency then they follow the same rules as everyone else. Millions are working on long shifts, it doesn't excuse illegal parking."
Paramedics who had an abusive note left on their ambulance speak out
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