IT LOOKS just like a normal publicity picture – Travelodge staff joining Chester VIPs at the opening of the city centre hotel.
But a closer look reveals the Lord Mayor’s civic Bentley parked outside the Delamere Street hotel – on double yellow lines.
In the same week, the Lord Mayor’s authority, Cheshire West and Chester Council, announced it was targeting motorists who park illegally in taxi ranks.
Lord Mayor Neil Ritchie, who attended the hour-long event along with the Lady Mayoress and Tory MP Stephen Mosley, said: “I agree we should abide by the same law as everyone else. There may be occasions when that is very difficult.”
The Lord Mayor said there were times when the car had to park up at the nearest convenient spot “especially when it’s raining”. He added: “You have to take account of the dignity of the office. It’s one of those things.”
The Lord Mayor explained why his driver may have parked on double yellow lines, risking a £35 fixed penalty notice.
“He possibly didn’t know how long we were going to be,” he added. “There is nowhere else to go.”
One city centre shopkeeper said: “If it’s good for one, it should be good for the other. If it’s the law, it’s the law.”
Council spokesman Ian Callister said: “We would agree that the Lord Mayor was very lucky to have escaped a ticket. Had the mayoral car been spotted on double yellow lines it would have met the same fate of all other vehicles breaking the law.
“Having said that, it is perhaps understandable that the Lord Mayor’s first considerations were for his civic duty and the dignity of the office.
“There was nowhere else to park, it was raining heavily and he was due to officiate at the opening.”
