Traffic wardens have been told to take a pragmatic approach after traders where ticketed outside their own businesses at White Shops in Catterick Garrison.
Sandra Lawrence, manager of Star Cars Taxis, is one of several people who has received tickets for parking outside the shops on Hildyard Row.
She said she stopped in a loading bay outside the Star office because BT vans were taking up the available short stay spaces further up the street.
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She said: “I was only in the office for six minutes dropping off some boxes and checking that the phone lines were okay because they have previously stopped when BT has been working in the area.
“But I was given a ticket. The man said there was a five-minute maximum wait in the loading bays – he was laughing at me.
“We’re having so much problems at the moment and losing so much business and yet they don’t seem to care.”
Another Star driver was given a ticket while dropping off a disabled woman at the dentist.
She had parked in a disabled bay because the woman had her blue disabled badges but the passenger took it with her as the driver accompanied her to the waiting room.
When the driver returned she found she had received a ticket.
Both women appealed the fines but the fines were refused.
Sandra is now taking up the issue with Rishi Sunak MP.
Businesses at White Shops are suffering because work to improve the nearby junction that started last summer and was meant to be completed in 12 weeks is now not scheduled to finish until November.
A North Yorkshire County Council spokesman said: “The county council is aware of parking concerns at White Shops, particularly for passing trade, as highway works continue.
“The current provision allows 20 minutes on-street parking in the spaces outside the shops with long term off-street parking available in the nearby Vicarage Road car park. Both of these are free of charge, with Vicarage Road free until the works are completed.
“While it remains important to have on-street enforcement to maintain the appropriate use of limited spaces and uphold parking opportunities for drivers, the council is working with its enforcement providers to promote the need to take a pragmatic approach in such circumstances.’’
