Council gives itself parking ticket

WE don't believe it!

That was the cry from Ian Deans and his colleagues when Ipswich Borough Council dug a hole for itself by fining a tea hut used by its road workers £60 after it was mistaken for an unlicensed burger van.

The bizarre incident happened after council employees, making parking spaces in Old Foundry Road, stationed their vehicle near to the site.

For a fortnight the men had left their tea hut - a converted towed burger van - there.

Frying in the baking heat, and after several hours of hard manual labour, the workmen look forward to somewhere cool to make a brew and relax.

However they were astounded when they arrived at their hut– which is also full of Ipswich Borough Council property including glow-in-the dark jackets to mugs bearing their crest – prior to beginning work to find it adorned with a parking ticket.

A council employee had slapped the £60 ticket on the van - claiming it was an unlicensed burger vehicle.

Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, one of the workmen ripped the fine off of the vehicle and marched up to the Civic Centre to give employees a grilling.

They said the caravan will remain in the same position and they have no intention of moving it for the remaining six months they are in Old Foundry Road.

"I just thought it was hilarious," said workman Ian Deans. "We turned up for work and there was this notice on it that claimed that it was illegal and it was a burger van.

"Of course we were not going to pay and we were not going to move it. My boss came along ands ripped the notice off and is having it out with them I think. But effectively they have fined themselves £60.

"We are council employees and have been her for two weeks. We will be here for another six months and we use the van as a tea hut really. That is all it's for."

A spokesman for red-faced council officials said: "We were not aware at the time that this vehicle was being used by workmen on site. The excess charge has now been waived."