Drivers forced to abandon cars after heavy snow 'slapped with parking fines'

Motorists who were forced to abandon their cars after heavy snow left them stranded appear to have been slapped with parking fines.

One furious driver slammed his local council after claiming a traffic warden was serving penalty notices when cars were left on roads in Chatham, Kent.

Matt Negus said he saw a warden giving out tickets along a stretch of road following heavy snow on Friday.

He said Medway Council workers should “hang their heads in shame” for allowing tickets to be issued under the circumstances.

UK Snow 2019 - In pictures

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But the council, in a post on Facebook, had said it was aware drivers were abandoning vehicles and that its parking enforcement officers would be “mindful”.

The local authority said cars which were “obviously abandoned” would not be issued with a fixed penalty notice.

In a rant on social media, Mr Negus added: “I have just witnessed a traffic warden on castle road ticketing abandoned cars due to the heavy and dangerous conditions when clearly if you had the gritters out early enough they may have got home.”

The council’s Facebook post read: “We're aware that a number of motorists abandoned their vehicles last night due to the severe weather conditions.

“Our parking enforcement officers are mindful of this and will not be issuing fixed penalty notices to vehicles which have been obviously abandoned, such as where double yellow lines cannot be seen.”

The Standard has approached the council for an official statement.

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