Red-faced council admits parking blunder

AN Oldham Council van caught parking on the pavement, double yellow lines and zig-zag markings

OLDHAM Council has been left red-faced as a picture emerged of one of its vehicles parked... on zig-zag lines outside a school. The embarrassment came only days after the council hit out at drivers for similar offences.

The authority had called on motorists to consider the safety of other road users and curb bad parking habits. The following day a reader submitted a picture of an Oldham Councilvan parked outside Blue Coat School.

Mrs Jones said: “Council officers had parked their vehicle on the yellow zig-zag area; they were blocking the pavement. They effectively turned Egerton Street into one and a half lanes instead of two. The absolute disregard of Oldham Council, the establishment that repeatedly fines drivers for the same behaviour, is somewhat ludicrous.”

Councillor Dave Hibbert, cabinet member for housing, planning and transport, said: “I expect council staff to behave as responsibly as I am asking members of the public to behave. Certain council vehicles are allowed to park on some restricted lines while undertaking statutory duties — but they should not be parking on zig-zag lines.”