A WORKMAN who received a parking ticket while carrying out work for Taunton Deane Council said it is “ridiculous” his appeal has been dismissed.

Colin Vile of Taunton, who works for Somerset County Council, was cleaning poster sites across the town on September 10 after a request by Taunton Deane Council.

He had parked his van at the end of Hammet Street in a loading bay and taxi rank to clean an area by Lloyds bank.

But despite displaying posters and letters explaining what he was doing he was shocked to find he had been slapped with a parking ticket.

Colin said: “The poster site outside Lloyds is difficult to park alongside so I parked at the closest safe place because of all the equipment we use.

“The poster sites only take about four minutes to clean and I was observed by the traffic warden between 11.45 and 11.48am – just three minutes.

“They could see what I was doing and I had A4 posters in the van saying I was working for the council and even had an e-mail from the council about cleaning the poster points.”

But despite contacting the council Colin was told he would still have to pay the fine.

“It’s ridiculous, even after I explained they still wanted me to pay,” he added.

“But I paid the £35 before it doubled because I didn’t want to be left with a £70 bill.”

A council spokesman said: “The council carries out enforcement of on and off street parking regulations right across our area.

“The parking, limited waiting, loading/unloading and taxi rank rules are contained in Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs).

“Although Mr Vile is a contractor for Taunton Deane Borough Council, nobody is exempt from these parking regulations.”

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