Barrow mayor's chauffeur broke disabled parking rules | North West Evening Mail
A MEMBER of the public caught Barrow mayor’s chauffeur red-handed when he parked in a disabled bay to collect his fish and chip supper.
Motorist Kevin Fox was parked in Dalton Road at 7pm on Friday June 19 when he saw the mayor’s Jaguar S type drive into a disabled bay.
Mr Fox then watched the driver, Paul West, walk off and return 15 minutes later with a carrier bag containing his fish and chip supper. Mr Fox said: “I just couldn’t believe that someone in his position would do that, what with being a representative of the council and more specifically the mayor’s driver.
“Worse was to follow as a disabled driver pulled up to park and had to park outside of the disabled bay markings as the mayor’s car was in the way. How can Barrow Borough Council expect to implement and regulate their own parking regulations when they have such a blatant disregard for the rules themselves?
“It really makes me angry when able-bodied people take advantage of easily-situated disabled parking bays, because they can’t be bothered to walk the extra few hundred yards.”
Barrow mayor, Dorothy Dawes, said: “I know the circumstances, he didn’t realise he was parking in a disabled spot and only popped in to get his tea – fish and chips.”
Chief executive of the council, Tom Campbell, was informed of the parking discrepancy after the Evening Mail forwarded him a copy of Mr Fox’s picture.
Mr Campbell said: “The mayor’s car is not exempt from on-street parking restrictions but can park free of charge in any council car park. The driver was between official duties and the mayor was not present.
“The driver had no right to park there and if he had been observed by a warden a fine would have been issued and he would have had to pay it as does the driver of any vehicle whether they are the owner or not.
“Parking offences are not normally grounds for disciplinary action however given that the mayor’s car carries personalised number plates and is well-known I have issued a verbal warning to the driver for improper behaviour in charge of the mayor’s car.”
Margaret Burrow, honorary secretary of Barrow and District Disability Association, said the council needed to be firmer with unscrupulous motorists.
She said: “A lot of people park where they shouldn’t be parking and it makes it very difficult for the people who do have severe disabilities.
“One of thing things we have been pushing for is for the council to fine somebody the maximum penalty of £1,000, if they do enforce the maximum it might have more of an effect.”
Mr Fox, of Princewood Drive, Barrow, said he was glad to see the driver had been reprimanded.
He said: “It can’t be one rule for them and one for us, so I am glad he’s been given a warning and I hope this sends out the message that the rules apply to everyone.
“Surely him using the car to pick up his fish and chips is a misuse of public funding and property?”
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