I’ve been fined 96 times by council for parking outside my OWN pub to unload stock – it’s ridiculous
A PUB owner has revealed he’s been slapped with 96 tickets for parking outside his own business to unload barrels of beer and boxes of wine.
Stephen Reynolds says he’s racked up a whopping £3,330 in fines since the council changed its rules less than three years ago.
The publican, who has owned his Wales bar for a decade, claims his council is being unfair and his pleas to appeal the fines have fallen on deaf ears.
Stephen’s attempts to avoid another ticket – by parking nearby in what he thought was an unrestricted area – have failed too, with more fines ending up on his windscreen.
He’s now at his wit’s end after being slapped with two tickets just last week while parked outside his pub – Slipping Jimmy’s in Newport.
Stephen told WalesOnline: “When I appeal this they’ll tell me: ‘Well you were there too long.’
“But there is nothing there at all that states that there is a time limit.
“On Friday I walked up and they were at my car taking photos and writing a note and I said to them: ‘What are you doing? I’m unloading the car for my business.’
“They said: ‘You’ve been parked too long.’ I said: ‘Are you taking the Mick? I’ve just pulled up.’ They won’t listen.”
The pub owner explained that in July 2020 the Newport Council changed the rules outside his High Street bar, restricting access for business owners.
The changes mean he can only unload stock between 6am and 10am – but he struggles to get back from the suppliers in Cardiff in time because it opens at 9am.
Stephen said: “I dread to count the tickets I’ve had since I’ve been here.
“I’m averaging three tickets a month which has been going on since it’s been pedestrianised. I’m paying £35 a ticket.
“It’s got to the point where I’ve spoken to everyone I can speak to about it and all I get is: ‘It’s been pedestrianised for health and safety reasons and we can’t allow you access after 10am.’
“There are no shops up here, there are not that many people up here. You’d have to go out of your way to hit a pedestrian.”
The pub owner said he’s had at least three run-ins with wardens a month since the changes – even when he parks yards away from the designated loading area.
Stephen says in the alternative spot there are no signs warning of a time limit, but he’s still always told he’s parked too long.
Plus, he claims he’s not alone and other bar workers on the street are having similar issues.
He continued: “We’re getting bands cancel on us too because they can’t park to unload their gear and I’ve got no bands on a Friday or Saturday night.
“The council can say it’s not their problem but I was here before they brought in all of this and it’s seriously affecting businesses.
“You get to a point where you think is it even worth it? By the time I’ve paid one fine I get another one.”
A spokesperson for Newport Council said: “Restrictions on vehicles accessing the pedestrianised High Street have been in place for a number of years.
“More than two years ago, the hours of access were changed to 6am to 10am each day to improve safety for visitors, including those using the outside hospitality areas in High Street.
“There is also another loading bay available in Bridge Street between the hours of 7am and 7pm which can be used by those making deliveries.”