Parking warden sparks fury for giving fire engine ticket

Firefighters parked the vehicle outside the gym where they went to train so they would be able to respond to an emergency situation

After photos of the yellow ticket placed on the engine were shared online and sparked fury, Mid Sussex District said the fine was being withdrawn (Dean Price/pictureexclusive.com)

A traffic warden has sparked outrage for slapping a parking ticket on a fire engine.

The firefighters from East Grinstead Fire Station parked the vehicle outside the nearest door while they went to the gym to train on Friday.

The crew parked on double yellow lines so they would be able to respond to an emergency situation in seconds if necessary but were shocked to return to a parking ticket on the windscreen.

After photos of the yellow ticket sparked fury after being shared online, Mid Sussex District Council said the fine was being withdrawn.

While the fire station said everybody had a job to do, critics on Facebook branded the ticket "ridiculous" and "shameful".

"Just a very quick note in response to the viral pictures flying around at the moment that this situation is being dealt with,” East Grinstead fire station said on its Facebook page.

"We understand and appreciate everyone has a job to do and that’s how our society works.

"We will always respect this but always challenge professionally when needed. At the time our immediate response crew were using fitness facilities in the Atrium as our facility is undertaking maintenance.

"They believed they were parked appropriately and were still able to be on the appliance within 47 seconds for an emergency."

Facebook user, Gill Drillsma, said: “Talk about a jobsworth. Shame on whoever ticketed this fire engine.”

”Where's commonsense? Sounds ridiculous,” added Yvonne Charlotte.

A West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson said: “One of our fire engines was issued with a parking ticket while parked outside Kings Leisure Centre.

“We are looking into the reasons for its issue and are working to resolve this with Mid Sussex District Council.”

The East Grinstead crews have now been offered free gym membership from Chartham Park golf course in East Grinstead so will now be able to park without being worried they will get a ticket.

Councillor Gary Marsh, Cabinet Member for Service Delivery, said: "One of our civil enforcement officers was patrolling the area of Little King Street in East Grinstead and identified that a fire engine was parked in a bay designated for police vehicles only.

"A penalty charge notice was issued. However, since then it has come to our notice that the fire crew were on official duty, with the police aware of their use of the bay. We have notified the fire service that the ticket will be withdrawn."