They didn't empty the bins, but... council issues 62 parking tickets at 8am on New Year's Day

Partygoers in the market town of Beverley thought the council car parks would be free as they had been on previous Saturdays throughout the festive season.

But they were hit with an unwelcome New Year hangover when they discovered the council's offer expired at 8am on New Year's Day.

62 angry motorists were ticketed raising 3,700 for the council.

Mother-of-one Catherine Rigg, 43, said: "I parked my little yellow Peugeot in a council car park at 7pm on New Year's Eve.

"When I got back to it at midday the next day it had a ticket. There were quite a few with tickets on, I couldn't believe it. We all just stood there in amazement.

"You'd have thought New Year's Day would be free with it being a public holiday.

"The council haven't emptied my bins this week, I've had to go to the tip. But they could send out traffic wardens on New Year's Day morning to catch people who left their cars the night before.

"I thought I was being sensible leaving the car, it never struck me they would be handing out tickets."

Local landlords also condemned the wardens. Dave Buttery, licensee at the Angel pub, said: "I'd certainly be outraged if I was trying to

stay on the right side of the law by not drink-driving and I got a ticket.

"Our car park's not big enough, there's only room for about eight cars, so all the punters that came here on New Year's Eve couldn't use it.

"The natural thing for them to do would be to leave their cars in the council car park overnight and imagine that, because it was New Year's Day, they would be okay."

Paul Yeats, owner of the Oddfellows Arms boozer, added: "It's a bit out of order to fine people like that. The taxi rates were doubled on New Year's Eve.

"I'm not a driver, but I think the council could maybe have given a bit of leeway so people could have the opportunity to park. Perhaps they could have given them while dinner time to pick their cars up."

Council signs in the town clearly state that parking is free on Sundays but not on any other days - but free parking was extended to Saturdays in December in a bid to boost local trade.

A council spokesman said: "East Riding Council offered free parking in its car parks on Saturdays and Sundays during December, including Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

"This was advertised in the car parks and in the local press and clearly stated that this was only for December. The council issued 62 parking tickets on New Year's Day in its car parks."