Invasion of the white van man

FCHO vans pack the residents-only estate car park in Eden Street

BOSSES from First Choice Homes were forced to halt their annual conference after a parking mix-up left residents furious.

Tenants on the Barker Street Estate found the firm’s vans taking up most of their permit-only spaces and even parking on double yellow lines as they descended on the Civic Centre for the meeting.

Residents were forced to risk parking tickets themselves by leaving their cars on double yellow lines, and district nurses failed to find spaces as they visited patients on the estate.

When bosses were made aware, they halted the meeting and sent staff to move their vehicles.

The FCHO vans all displayed parking waiver notices — so they didn’t get tickets.

One resident said: “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Everywhere you looked, all you could see was FCHO vans. I counted 31 of them.

“I understand the vans often do have to park up on double yellows when they’re doing work but this just seems like an abuse of power.”

A spokesperson for FCHO said: “We would like to apologise unreservedly to all residents affected. The event on Friday was our annual staff conference and we strongly encourage all staff to attend as it is our chance to keep staff in the loop and motivate them for the year ahead.

“That said, staff using their parking waivers to attend the event is unacceptable.”



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