Anger over parking wardens
ANGRY residents have slammed parking wardens for targeting Lymm when shopkeepers stayed open later to try and attract Christmas trade.
Shopkeepers decided to take on the big shopping centres by staging their own late-night shopping initiative to give villagers a chance to avoid the “madding crowds.”
They agreed to stay open until 8pm on the last four Thursdays before Christmas – but on the very first night, two wardens arrived in the village at about 7pm.
They toured car parks looking for improperly parked vehicles and also patrolled the main streets looking for yellow line defaulters.
Resident Jim Allen said: “I was disgusted to see the two wardens in Lymm at 7pm. The shop owners incur extra costs by extending their opening hours to try to attract business to the village and Warrington Borough Council stifle this trade by sending traffic wardens to issue parking tickets.
“I have never seen wardens in the village so late and I spoke to shopkeepers who said they had never seen them after about 5.30pm.”
But council leader Ian Marks – a Lymm resident himself – said: “It’s ridiculous to suggest the wardens targeted Lymm because of the late night shopping.
“I have seen wardens in the village after 7pm several times and I am in favour of them because Lymm does have acute parking problems.
“The borough council supports the traders’ initiative and had no say in where the wardens were operating that night. I am sure it was just a coincidence.”
The traders still plan to stay open this Thursday and on December 11 and 18.
