Royal Mail workers anger over parking tickets issued in Burton

Royal Mail workers in Burton have been left incensed after being slapped with parking fines while they were at work.

They say during the coronavirus pandemic and the count down to Christmas more staff than ever are working from the Burton Sorting Office, which means the staff car park is always full and workers are forced to park on the road outside the office on the Falcon Close industrial estate on edge of town.

Staff say they are forced to park on the road outside the office, which has double yellow lines, as there are so many of them nowadays. They feel common sense should have prevailed as postal staff are working extremely hard to keep mail and parcels going out to customers in the town during the second national lockdown.

Twelve vehicles parked on double yellow lines outside the sorting office were slapped with tickets but workers say staff cars are not parked outside homes causing issues but are on an out-of-town industrial estate.

Parking wardens from Staffordshire County Council descended on Falcon Close to clamp down on the illegal parking by workers.

There is a car park at the sorting office, but the amount of staff there means there is never enough room for all, said one worker.

However, the county council says the parking restrictions are in place for safety reasons.

A Royal Mail worker, who received a parking ticketed, said: “Twelve private vehicles were ticketed outside of the Royal Mail premises, due to the fact they were parked on yellow lines.

“If these fines are paid within a 14 day period, this would amount to a total £420 being paid to the council, failure to do this, would mean this would be doubled to £820.

“Due to higher volumes of mail because of the ongoing pandemic, and the business entering its peak time of year. It is clear that there is a need to increase staff members and the number of vehicles to accommodate this.

“The knock-on effect of this, is the increase in staff vehicles coming to work as well.

“The car park we have barely has the space during normal periods, but with this increase it leaves the staff no choice but to park outside the premises on the road.

“We are adults and do understand that this could lead to tickets being issued to us because of this. Although during these unprecedented times, would you not think a little thought and maybe perhaps, some common sense could prevail?

“All of the staff at Royal Mail Burton have worked through the entirety of the pandemic, under immense pressure, to ensure our customers receive the goods they have ordered on time.”

David Williams, county council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “Civil parking enforcement is an important service that helps deter drivers from parking illegally, keeps our roads and streets on the move and is essential for our local economies.

“The parking restrictions in place here are for safety reasons, due to the number of commercial goods vehicles using the road.

“While we do appreciate there is more demands for deliveries due to increased online shopping, unfortunately a dispensation for parking on the double yellow lines cannot be made.

“Everyone who is given a parking ticket has the right to appeal against the decision and we always advise people to appeal if they feel a fine has been given unfairly.”

Royal Mail has been contacted for comment.