GREENHEAD councillor Mehboob Khan has urged Kirklees Council to waive parking fines incurred by runners in last month’s Race For Life.
Competitors and spectators at the charity race on June 22 were furious to find themselves slapped with parking tickets.
But despite pressure from participants and opposition councillors the council has declined to write off the fines.
Labour leader Clr Khan believes the council’s actions have been mean-spirited and fines should be refunded or given to charity.
He said: “I think it is completely out of order for the Tory Cabinet to be silent on this issue.
“Their silence shows a complete and outrageous lack of sympathy to the predicament facing those who were out simply to do their bit for the community and were fundraising for a very worthwhile cause.
“We all know that car parking around Greenhead Park is problematic and in my opinion the traffic wardens do an excellent job because there is often abuse of the parking restrictions, particularly when there are major entertainment events on or on nice sunny days.
“But this wasn’t a case of people going to the park for their own entertainment and not being bothered to park legally. On that Sunday we had hundreds of people descending on the park to selflessly take part in a very worthwhile charity event.
“Labour councillors are therefore asking the Tory Cabinet to be magnanimous and show the same generosity of spirit as those runners on that Sunday and cancel their parking tickets.”
To appeal against the decision participants should contact Paul Hawkins, Parking Manager, Highways & Transportation, Albion Street, Huddersfield.
The Examiner contacted Kirklees Cabinet member for Highways, Clr David Hall. He did not respond.
