Council apologise for jubilee street party ticket (From Your Local Guardian)

Wimbledon business man angered at 'snooping' traffic warden who gave him a ticket at Sutton street party

7:20am Monday 25th June 2012 in News By James Pepper

A jubilee reveller's celebrations were cut short when he was given a parking ticket at a street party.

Ken Hawes, 65, was celebrating on The Warren, Sutton, when his car was targeted by an inspector certainly not in the jubilee spirit.

Despite the road being cordoned off for the several hundred strong party, a ticket was issued at 1.55 pm on Monday June 4.

However, Sutton Council have now issued Mr Hawes an apology for the ticket and said it was the work of a rogue inspector.

Mr Hawes, a Wimbledon businessman, said it beggared belief that a traffic warden was "snooping" around street parties.

He said: "I was parked at the end of the road, with two wheels on a drive. I was at our friend's party, but I didn't want to get stuck on the street all night so I parked just behind the cordon."

"Its outrageous. We were all dancing around celebrating the Queen's 60th year, and all the while this traffic warden was creeping around people's cars trying to catch them out."

At first, Mr Hawes thought it was a joke.

"For a second I thought I was on candid camera, I couldn't believe someone would do this at a party where the street was closed off."

Mr Hawes said he did not want to tell his "wonderful" hosts what had happened.

"I felt too bad to tell them. We have been friends for over 30 years. I didn't know what to do, I was in shock, it was amazing."

Mr Hawes was given a £110 ticket, which he is still debating whether or not to appeal.

Councillor Jill Whitehead, Chairwoman of the Environment and Neighbourhoods Committee at Sutton Council, said: "We gave our contractor a list of roads which were closed for jubilee street parties and told them not to issue any tickets on these roads.

"It seems they didn't follow our instructions on this occasion, and we'll be taking it up with them. We've ripped up the ticket and sincerely apologise to Mr Hawes as, obviously, this should never have happened.

"Mr Hawes has not contacted us, but we will be writing to him to say sorry and let him know of the mix-up."