Traders have claimed their delivery drivers are being fined for unloading infringements – by a CCTV car parked in the only loading bay in the street.
Jeremy Scott, owner of Swan Books, Upminster, said his delivery driver had received a ticket from the CCTV camera car after parking opposite the shop in Corbets Tey Road. He said the only loading bay on that stretch of the road had been occupied by the CCTV vehicle itself at the time.
Jeremy said: “If the one loading bay that is needed by us traders for our deliveries is taken up by someone trying to catch other drivers out, this isn’t right.
“If our delivery drivers park outside our shop, they have been given a fine. But they have nowhere else to park, so what are they supposed to do? The council needs to look at where the CCTV car is going and spread it more evenly as it seems like we are being targeted a lot more than other places.”
Other traders agreed. David Macpherson, owner of Hotshots Barbers opposite the loading bay, said: “The CCTV camera car is here every day; it has been here four times already this morning and parks in the loading bay.”
Cllr Barry Tebbutt, cabinet member for StreetCare, said: “Our teams would never intentionally prevent others from parking in loading bays. If businesses are parking to load or unload goods in other areas, they won’t be penalised as long as it’s clear they’re doing it for business purposes and there aren’t any loading restrictions in place.”
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