I AM writing regarding the over-zealous parking attendants who were busy yet again issuing tickets to motorists parked at the back of the Halifax Bank in Prestwich.

This seems to be a favourite spot for the attendants at 9am as it is directly opposite St Mary's primary school. Given that the Longfield Centre car park is locked until 9.30am, it is a Venus flytrap for parents dropping off their children.

I received a ticket for parking there three years ago and following a lengthy appeal, my ticket was eventually cancelled.

I argued that the land is not owned by Bury Council and not part of the public highway which is evident by the property management company's signs on the walls at the rear of the shops.

Similarly, the yellow lines are in such a poor state of disrepair that they are barely visible and my ticket was cancelled because of this.

I also received assurances from the parking services manager for Bury MBC that as the lines were indeed in a poor condition; a works order had been sent out to rectify this.

Needless to say that this has not been done and the attendants are still issuing tickets. Surely an illegal practice if ever there was one.

I will finally refer again to the lunacy of the decision to close the Longfield Centre car park until 9.30am each morning and question why a maximum stay policy cannot be introduced.

I accept that the council do not want the car park filled with people who park and ride' but surely anyone who is genuinely using the facilities on offer in Prestwich Village will not be there for more than four hours.

People working there could be issued with permits to park there for longer and parents dropping their children off at school could park safely and legally.

This would also stop the dangerous practice of cars pulling over on both sides of Rectory Lane from 9.20am onwards whilst they wait for the car park to open.

Is this idea too logical for the council to implement? Or is it the case that maximum stay enforcement would require more vigilance by the attendants and less revenue for the council's purse?

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