Early 2015 my wife Barbara and myself volunteered to help keep the flowerbeds on the riverside behind the South Holland Centre tidy for Spalding In Bloom. We did the weeding and deheading on a regular basis and got rewarding remarks from visitors using the water taxi.
On December 20, I decided the beds needed a quick weed so I parked my vehicle, with my tools, at the far end of the lay-by behind the South Holland Centre. I have a sign in the car window stating Spalding In Bloom Worker and was wearing a hi viz vest with the same wording.
After about three minutes I glanced up and saw a traffic warden looking at the sign in my car. I went to him and said it was my car and he said anyone could make a sign like that and go into town shopping. I agreed with him but I was here working on the flower beds.
After a long, heated argument he gave me no choice but to leave or get a parking ticket. I have never had any problems with other traffic wardens whilst working here.
As genuine Spaldonians who still care for the look of our town, do we have to put up with the arrogance of a man in a green uniform who thinks he has more authority in running the town than our local council!
We apologise if the flowerbeds soon look very untidy but we personally cannot do anything about it if we cannot park our vehicle.
I ask the question – what is the difference between God and a traffic warden? Answer – God does not think he is a traffic warden.
Geoff Hemsil
Spalding
