North council cars snapped parking illegally

Dec 14 2008 by Phil Doherty, Sunday Sun

THE Sheriff of Newcastle and three fellow civic dignitaries have been collared by the Sunday Sun after we spotted their limos illegally parked on the pavement.

We snapped the four chauffeur–driven vehicles outside St Nicholas Cathedral in Newcastle, where they were attending the Lord Mayor’s carol service.

And when we approached Newcastle City Council for comment they admitted we had caught them bang to rights and issued an immediate apology.

A spokesman said: “We are going to review our procedures in light of this.

“We are sorry for doing it and maybe in future we will drop the Mayor off at the event, drive to an official car parking space and pick him up afterwards.”

The limos, emblazoned with local authority crests on their doors, had been driven onto the pavement and parked nose to tail, causing an obstruction to pedestrians, an offence under the Highway Code.

The cars belonged to Newcastle City Council and their guests from South Tyneside Council, Northumberland County Council and Castle Morpeth Borough Council, Northumberland.

They were all attending the carol service in the cathedral being held to support the Lord Mayor of Newcastle’s official charity, the Newcastle Hospital NHS Trust which runs the General Hospital and Royal Victoria Infirmary.

The Lord Mayor of Newcastle David Wood did not attend the event due to illness and his place was taken by the Sheriff of Newcastle, Michael Cookson.

The city council is due to take over traffic enforcement next year.

It already controls parking in the city’s car parks, issuing fines to those who overstay their times or park illegally.

Neil Herron, a campaigner for motorists, said: “They should be setting an example. You’d think they’d have more common sense but unfortunately common sense does not always accompany high office.

“Many councils in the region are car unfriendly yet they seem to believe there is one law for them and another for us mere mortals.

“Let’s hope those concerned set a good example by giving the equivalent amount of cash they’d have to pay in fines to a North East road safety charity.”

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