PARKING on bus stops, even for loading or unloading, is prohibited and doing so carries one of the highest penalty charges – £70.
However, this didn’t deter Durham County Council employees when they parked on a bus stop in Market Place, Barnard Castle, to pick up vegetables from the town’s weekly market – not once but twice last month.
The county employees were snapped on both occasions by an eagle-eyed photographer as they used the bus stop as a convenient parking bay, then nipped off to pick up their shopping.
Durham County Council enforcement officers regularly issue tickets to anyone parking in restricted bays or overstaying the two-hour roadside time limit.
Many Teesdale residents have fallen foul of their efficiency, including one taxi driver who complained about being issued with a fine after dropping a passenger off and helping the elderly woman into the shop.
The parking offenders at Durham County Council have not been fined but they are now to be investigated for their actions by their bosses.
Jimmy Bennett, clean and green manager at Durham County Council, said: “We would like to thank the member of the public for bringing this to our attention as this is not something we would ever condone. We will be speaking to the individual concerned as part of our investigation into these incidents.”
