Outpouring of support for Sawers over Parking Ticket

Outpouring of support for Sawers over Parking Ticket

When Belfast city centre independent deli owner Kieran Sloan of Sawers tweeted that his son got a parking ticket – while loading orders for delivery to people at home – he was frustrated  that the red coat was ‘targeting a small business trying to survive.’

While Sawers is trying to help people forced to isolate due to Covid, Kieran criticised the tough parking enforcement in Belfast – while the city centre is suffering from lockdown.

NR contacted the Department for Infrastructure for a comment, concerned for smaller independent retailers loading up for home deliveries, doing the best they can to serve the local community, then being slapped down in their efforts by parking restrictions – even when the city centre is at a standstill, and we hear daily of independent traders having to shut up shop.

The Department of Infratructure said that following the extension of coronavirus restrictions, the Minister Nicola Mallon has again agreed to the scaling  back of the numbers of Traffic Attendants to a smaller team who will be deployed on a priority basis to locations where they can contribute most to road safety and traffic progression.

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said: “ During the first lockdown it was evident that some drivers took advantage of the absence of Traffic Attendants, as there were instances of hazardous and irresponsible parking, some of which compromised road safety and impacted on traffic progression. I am well aware of the difficult trading conditions being encountered by businesses along with the reduced traffic volumes using our roads, so I have taken the decision to scale back the parking enforcement service during this difficult time.

“Parking restrictions will remain in place and a small team of Traffic Attendants will continue to be deployed on a priority basis to locations where they can contribute most to road safety and traffic progression.

“I would urge all drivers to park responsibly and legally, and to show respect to Traffic Attendants as they are carrying out an essential service which helps to keep our roads and streets safe for all users. There is also an online process to challenge Penalty Charge Notice, details of which are available on the NI Direct website.”

NR hopes that Sawers can get this unfair parking ticket retracted. Any other trader in the same situation can challenge a parking ticket – via the link below.

Challenge a parking ticket (Penalty Charge Notice) | nidirect