Illegally parked mayoral car escapes fine

A mayoral car escaped a fine after enforcement officers spotted it parked outside a town hall in the Midlands - in a no parking zone.

The wardens, who are employed by Wyre Forest District Council, approached the vehicle outside Kidderminster Town Hall in Vicar Street at the weekend.

Kidderminster mayor, Councillor Howard Martin, was not using the vehicle at the time.

It had been parked by officer Bob Fleming who was returning the mayoral chain to the building after a previous engagement on Sunday.

Councillor Martin had attended the annual selection of the Kidderminster Carnival queen, princess and rosebud at the hall earlier in the day. He had been taken home to attend another engagement which he was travelling to in his own car.

Mr Fleming explained to the officers he was only returning the chain to the building and they agreed to let him do so.

However he was told the car would have to moved as soon as he was finished.

Councillor Martin said he had not known about the situation but had since been told about it by Mr Fleming.

"After dropping me off so I could travel to my next engagement the officer had returned to the town hall to return the Mayoral chain.

"He was approached by the enforcement officers who took advice from their supervisor and asked the officer how long it would take.

"After some discussion they decided as only a short time was needed, around 10 minutes, the car could remain where it was.

"No ticket was issued and the car was moved as soon as the chain was returned. The enforcement officers acted correctly."

Passers-by were bemused to see the Mayoral car being scrutinised by enforcement officers.

Office worker Mark Dobson, aged 36, said: "The warden was approached by the driver and there was some discussion about where the car was parked. Some thought it was disgraceful there should be no fine. Other cars would have been booked."