Worshippers left furious after being slapped with £70 parking fines while at CHURCH during Easter Sunday service
WORSHIPPERS have been left fuming after they were slapped with £70 parking fines while at church attending an Easter Sunday service.
More than half a dozen cars received tickets outside the Our Lady of Light and St Osyth Catholic Church, in Church Road, Clacton, Essex, on Sunday morning.
Several members of the congregation parked in the road which is painted with a single yellow line and parking is restricted between 9am and 6pm.
They now face having to cough up £70 in fines, or £35 if paid within 14 days, having been given the penalty charge notices.
One of the motorists, from St Osyth, told the Daily Gazette it was “saddening” to see parking wardens giving out fines for the faithful during what is a very special day in the Christian calendar.
They said: “It is very upsetting to be slapped with a parking ticket on what should be a celebration,” they said.
“I walked past at least half a dozen cars in a row with parking tickets on them – and I’m sure there were more.
“Easter Sunday is obviously very busy in church, it was packed – and there’s not a lot of parking available near the church.
“A number of the congregation are elderly and they can’t walk too far.
“I mistakenly thought the restrictions weren’t in place on a Sunday, but after getting the ticket I realised the spot was restricted. But it feels very callous on Easter Sunday.”
Another motorist, from Clacton, said: “The parking warden is just following the rules, but they must have realised why so many cars were in Church Road on Easter Sunday.
“I’m sure they didn’t target the congregation on Easter Sunday – that would be terrible.”
On-street parking in the Tendring district is handled by the North Essex Parking Partnership, run by Colchester Council.
A spokesperson for the North Essex Parking Partnership said: “To help ensure safe traffic flow and reduce congestion, all restrictions apply every day of the year, including Bank Holidays, unless the roadside signs state otherwise.
“Patrols take place every day other than Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, giving a consistent approach to patrolling across north Essex.
“Any requests to change the restriction in Church Road should be made to Tendring Council.”
The Sun Online had also contacted Colchester Council for comment.
It comes after a motorist was hit with a £60 fine while watching Dune 2.
A dad has claimed his daughter faces fines for parking on her own driveway after the council blocked a planned dropped kerb.
Drivers have been forced to fork out £1million a month in fines to just one local council because of a hated traffic rule.