I’ve been fined £100 by council jobsworths for riding my bike through town… I’d rather go to JAIL than pay up
A PENSIONER who was fined £100 by council jobsworths for riding his bike through town says he would rather go to jail than pay up.
Barrie Enderby, 82, had just left his bank on October 6 when he was stopped by a Grimsby Council Officer.
He was dealt a £100 fine, issued as part of the Public Spaces Protection Order, for riding through the centre of town.
The scheme was introduced back in 2019 to deal with nuisance behaviour in the town centre, such as cycling in the pedestrianised zone and drinking in the street.
Around 1,000 fines have so far been handed out under the initiative which has been extended until 2025.
However, Barrie has refused to pay the fine claiming that he hasn’t had one in the 40 years he’s been biking in the town.
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He explained: “I was biking through town last Thursday, October 6, locked my bike up and went into a bank on Victoria Street.
“As I came out, one of the council officers stopped me and said I’d be fined £100 for riding it in the street.
“I’ve been riding my bike around here for 40 years and have never once been fined.
“When he gave it to me I told him, ‘stick it up your a**e’. I’m more annoyed about it because my biking is what keeps me going.”
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He added: “When he told me it would be £100 I was quite frustrated, I’ve never had a problem when out on my bike before.
“I’ve seen all sorts going on around town in the past and they chose to give me a ticket.”
‘RATHER GO TO PRISON’
The lack of signage angered Barrie after being given the fine.
He said: “I asked where the sign was to say you couldn’t bike here and he pointed at the concrete.
“I couldn’t believe it, you wouldn’t be looking there for the rules would you, that annoyed me even more.
“If he had just asked me not to ride my bike I would have understood and stopped out of respect, but I never got the chance.”
Barrie says he would rather face whatever form of punishment gets sent his way than pay the fine.
He said: “I won’t be paying it, I’d rather go to prison then give them £100.
“I’ve not got £100 spare to give them that’s for sure. I don’t see why I should get penalised, but all these people speeding about on scooters seem to get no punishment.
“In my opinion, they’re much worse than a cyclist. If I’m honest, I feel hard done to and I now worry about where I can and can’t go on my bike.
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Cllr Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, said: “If someone feels they have been wrongly given a fixed penalty notice (FPN) they can challenge it, the details are on the ticket.
“Shoppers, businesses and people working in the town centre often complain about nuisance cycling in the pedestrian zone.”