A ROW has been sparked after visitors to a community event in Ipswich were hit with tickets after parking on a nearby road.

Neil Puffett

A ROW has been sparked after visitors to a community event in Ipswich were hit with tickets after parking on a nearby road.

Scores of people from around the area travelled to Gippeswyk Park, off Ancaster Road, on June 29 for the Lark in the Park event.

The Chantry Residents Association's seventh annual fun day went down a storm but organisers say the mood was soured when a number of people who parked on a verge off Birkfield Drive ended up with parking tickets.

Alona Burnett, chair of Chantry Residents Association, said the organisation is furious the tickets were handed out and is battling to get them cancelled.

She said the council were already aware of the event and had even charged the association more than £250 for use of the park.

“This is a community event which is held once a year.

“It is completely organised by volunteers who give up there time to put something back into the community we all love.

“We find this completely unacceptable and will not take this lying down.

“With it being a community event it seems a real shame that people who have supported us have been targeted in this way.”

A spokesman for Ipswich Borough Council said: “We can confirm that ten tickets were issued to motorists and that we have received a complaint from a resident calling for action against those who parked illegally.

“Our parking officers are here to help and will work closely with organisers of the event next year and offer advice to motorists on the day about alternate parking arrangements.”

Chantry Residents Association is keen to hear from anyone who received a ticket at the event and is asking people to phone 01473 683680 or e-mail chantryresassoc@btconnect.com.

Did you get a ticket? Were the council right to hand out tickets? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk