Council worker's car impounded while he works - by the council

A BRISTOL City Council caretaker's car has been impounded while he worked – by the council.

Steve Irvine, 53, was cleaning at Croyden House in Easton when he saw his car being loaded onto a truck belonging to BAS Parking Services, who operate on behalf of the council.

Mr Irvine immediately explained he was a council employee but was told his silver Ford Fiesta was not displaying a parking permit and was therefore being removed and would cost him in excess of £120.

Initially he was not unduly concerned, thinking his bosses would quickly remedy the situation, but was horrified when he was told there was nothing he could do.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013

The car was impounded at around 11am on Monday and taken to the company's compound in Avonmouth.

Despite protestations to his bosses and the council Mr Irvine, of Manor Farm, has been told he must stump up the cash if he wants his vehicle back so he can return to work.

Mr Irvine told The Post: "I have just started at that site again and a parking permit is being sorted by the council.

"I have a fob to operate the barrier to the car park and one to get in the door so I could not see it being a problem.

"Effectively I feel like I have been penalised for going to work. I went to my bosses and explained what had happened but they just said they can't do anything to help.

"I just don't understand it. I don't feel like working for them anymore. It is a shambles.

"I had put all my money into the petrol for the car this week. I had to walk home and it took me more than an hour.

"I don't have a car and I have to take my wife, who is a nurse, to work and she is livid.

"I live in Manor Farm and will have to walk to work – it is ridiculous. We are run ragged as it is.

"I parked there in good faith, I work hard for my money and they do this. I just can't understand it."

A spokesman for Bristol City Council said: "The caretaker in question had recently taken over responsibility for this site and was offered an opportunity to acquire a parking permit which is needed to park on-site.

"Unfortunately he had not yet provided his registration details at the time of the incident and so was without a permit.

"There are alternative options to parking on-site including on-street parking and use of another car park, both nearby and both free to him.

"Enforcement of parking restrictions at this site is carried out by a private contractor which responded to reports of a number of motorists parking at the flats without a permit and, unfortunately, this employee was caught up in this action and was towed away.

"Bristol City Council has approached the private contractor and asked them to consider waiving the costs of the tow away and release but they were not prepared to do that.

"In view of the fact that the employee parked on this site at his own risk, choosing not to use alternative options, the council does not feel that it would be an appropriate use of taxpayers' money for the authority to pick up the bill of more than £100.

"We believe that taxpayers would share our view that employees of Bristol City Council ought to abide by parking regulations in the same way any member of the public is required to."