Sefton Council has hit back at a Merseyside MP after claims veterans received parking fines on Remembrance Sunday.
Today, Damien Moore, MP for Southport issued a statement "condemning" the council for "administering Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs)" to Southport’s veterans and other motorists on Sunday (November 11). Mr Moore who is Merseyside's only Conservative MP claims that those wishing to pay their respects at the Southport Cenotaph were unable to pay at locations including the Tulketh Street car park, due to faulty parking meters.
However, the council has hit back stating they are disappointed in Mr Moore and that once the issue was brought to their attention enforcements of paid parking places was stopped.
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In his statement, Mr Moore said: "It is disgraceful that our town’s veterans have been wrongly subjected to Fixed Penalty Notices while attending this weekend's poignant Remembrance Service, a service I was proud to participate in.
“I have made clear to the Chief Executive that administered FPNs within the affected parking locations should be waived at the earliest opportunity – it is only right that our veterans are treated with the utmost respect, and no additional distress should be caused in this manner."
Sefton Council has said that Mr Moore's statement could add to the "completely unnecessary and uncalled for abuse" traffic wardens receive while carrying out their jobs. Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulation and Compliance, had responded to comments made by Mr Moore.
Cllr Lappin said: “It’s disappointing that the MP for Southport has issued his statement without first checking any facts. No Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were issued during the Remembrance Sunday service in Southport.
“A total of five PCNs were issued to cars without valid payment in car parks in Southport Town Centre after 12pm on Sunday, including four PCNs issued to cars parked on Tulketh Street without evidence of valid payment. We were later made aware of an intermittent fault with the card payment transaction processing system which resulted in some people being unable to pay by card, or by cash.
“This fault was not something we had any control over and as soon as it was brought to our attention we stopped enforcement of paid-for parking places. While we do have an operational phone payment system and ability to pay via smartphone app, we will, as we always do, assess any appeal for tickets issued during this time and take into account these factors.
"Anyone who feels they did receive a ticket unjustly having tried to pay by card on Sunday, November 12th should contact the council via parkingcc@sefton.gov.uk.
"The insinuation that our hard working Civil Enforcement Officers targeted those paying their respects is deliberately inflammatory and will no doubt add to the completely unnecessary and uncalled for abuse our officers receive while carrying out their jobs.”
Mr Moore has been approached to respond to the comments made by Sefton Council but is yet to reply.
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