I WAS one of the ladies who recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and raised money for the Independence Group at Bolton Lads and Girls Club. Emma Warburton and I were pictured in The Bolton News just before our adventure.
We made it to the summit, even though the last section was horrendous. Never again! However, we had some very generous sponsors, which made it all worthwhile for the club.
The one fly in the ointment was the over zealous parking services I encountered in Bolton when visiting the club.
I parked outside the front of the club, carefully avoiding the double yellow lines but failed to notice the "pay at meter" sign discreetly positioned on a lamppost further up the street.
Consequently, I was booked and have to pay the penalty charge, despite writing to appeal against the unfairness of what I felt was entrapment, rather than parking management.
I have since learned that the wardens lie in wait for parents collecting their children from the club, and slap tickets on their cars at every opportunity. What sort of council allows this? Targeting parents who are doing the best for their children, and probably some who are least able to afford a penalty charge.
As an ex-Bolton resident, I am disgusted by this action and will never visit the town centre again.
My nearest town is now Northwich, which has free parking everywhere - except where it would cause an obstruction or is unsafe. Bolton Council should come and learn how it should be done.
Readers can be assured that I did not use any sponsor money to pay my parking fine.
Lesley Hopkinson Northwich Cheshire
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