A council worker received a parking ticket for leaving his pick-up truck and trailer in a taxi rank parking transgression in Bath. The vehicle was left in the temporary rank on Grand Parade, which is being used while the normal rank outside Bath Abbey on Orange Grove is out of use. It was reported that the vehicle was illegally parked for at least three hours.
Nonchalant Attitude of Council Worker
The council worker apparently ignored the pleas of nearby taxi drivers to move his vehicle and sat in the cab of his van eating lunch, even after a parking ticket was served, according to a taxi trade eyewitness. The illegally parked vehicle and trailer took up three spaces, which caused several taxis to have to circle round the area or park round the corner. This had implications for some drivers who experienced a downturn in trade when they couldn’t park on the rank.
It was reported that the vehicle was illegally parked for at least three hours.
Concerns Over Fine Payment
Some taxi drivers were concerned that taxpayers would have to pay the fine though it was later confirmed that the driver of the illegally parked vehicle will be responsible for payment. Fair-minded commentators believe that had the council vehicle been parked for 10 minutes or so with the agreement of other users of the rank, it would not have been an issue, but to leave it there for three hours without care is poor behaviour and caused problems for both licenced taxi drivers and general public.