Woman issued parking ticket even though her vehicle was stuck in flood water
The director of a family furniture business was 'shocked' after a traffic warden slapped a parking ticket on the store's van - despite it being parked under two feet of flood water.
Earlier this month, the contents inside the warehouse belonging to Reynolds Furniture - in Bognor Regis, West Sussex - were almost completely flooded under water.
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Reynolds Furniture's warehouse is located nearby the Ferring Rife stream, as its banks burst into the building.
Attempting to avoid more costly damage, one of the vans was left on the pavement outside their flooded estate.
But as the pool of water continued into the street, the van was submerged two feet into the water.
To make matters worse, a traffic warden decided to slap a parking ticket on the windshield, because the van was double parked on two yellow lines.
Director Freya Reynolds, 31, - who has worked at the warehouse for 15 years - has since taken aim at the Arun District Council, explaining the unavoidable circumstances.
Freya, from Bognor Regis, said: "It was an unprecedented situation and we didn't have anywhere else to put it.
"The warehouse had completely flooded so we couldn't even get the vans into our yard.
"We didn't want to leave our vans on the road overnight but we felt we had no choice so we had to leave it outside the warehouse.
"The whole road was flooded and the gym over the road was as well, so nobody was going to be using the road. That's why we didn't see it as an issue.
"It never crossed my mind that someone would give us a parking ticket."
She explained: "I got a text from the warehouse manager on Sunday. I was shocked and wondered who could have done that.
"Surely they would have seen that the road was flooded and we couldn't put our van anywhere else.
"I wonder whether [the parking warden] wanted to have a look at the flooding themselves given everything was closed off and shut around there.
"It's the last thing you want after a stressful week.
"I told them in the appeal that I think it's unfair and I believed we'd be told not to do it again and that they understand why we did it.
"Even their own council building up the road was flooded so you'd think they'd have some empathy for the situation."
An Arun District Council spokesperson said: "Arun District Council appreciate the significant challenges posed by recent flooding in Bognor Regis and the difficulty this caused in locating suitable parking during this time.
"The Penalty Charge Notice was issued correctly however, having considered the circumstances of the case, as a gesture of goodwill, Arun District Council will write off the balance owed.
"Should vehicles be parked on double yellow lines or in breach of parking restrictions moving forward, a Penalty Charge Notice may be issued.
"This course of action has been taken given the extreme circumstances and unprecedented weather conditions in this area at the time."
LADbible has contacted Arun District Council for additional comment.
Anish Vij