'A load of rubbish' Parking warden probed for slapping £30 fine on WHEELIE BIN

AN over-zealous traffic warden is being investigated after he slapped a £30 parking ticket on a WHEELIE BIN - which was left on a set of double yellow lines

The parking warden slapped a wheelie bin with a £30 fine WALES NEWS SERVICE

The parking warden slapped a wheelie bin with a £30 fine

Bemused motorists looked on as the warden put the yellow penalty charge envelope on the handle of the large Biffa waste bin, which stood along a shopping street.

Salesman Mike Jones slammed the warden for his unusual behaviour.

He said: "It was bizarre - I realised I had just watched a warden give a ticket to a wheelie bin for bad parking." 

Mr Jones, 54, was in Carmarthen, West Wales, when he spotted the warden talking to other motorists about the wheelie bin from a town centre shop blocking the road.

The wheelie bin was parked on the double yellow lines WALES NEWS SERVICE

The wheelie bin was parked on the double yellow lines

I just thought it was a total waste of council resources and time. I'm sure he could have been doing something better

Mike Jones

He continued: "It appeared the warden slapped the plastic ticket envelope on the bin in a moment of hi-jinx after a member of public pointed out it was parked on double yellow lines.

"I saw him doing it and pulled in and took the pictures. What's the point of putting it on the bin?

"How could it be enforced? After all a wheelie bin doesn't have a registration plate."

He added: "I just thought it was a total waste of council resources and time.

"I'm sure he could have been doing something better." 

However the traffic warden has faced a booking of his own - when his bosses "launched a formal investigation" into his conduct.

Carmarthenshire Council's traffic and safety manager John McEvoy said: "The officer was patrolling the area when a member of the public pointed out that the wheelie bin was an obstruction, and asked if he was going to book it.

"The officer, in a light-hearted moment, wrapped a Penalty Charge Notice envelope around the bin handle.

"There was no ticket issued, it is not possible to book a wheelie bin or anything that is not motorised.

"Although this was meant as a humorous incident, we take this kind of thing very seriously and have launched a formal investigation into the conduct of this officer." 

A spokesman for waste collection company Biffa described the incident as a "load of rubbish."

He added: "It's a relief to learn that the bin in question isn't in trouble with the council.

"The ticket issued was simply a throw-away gesture and proved to be a load of rubbish. We are wheelie careful and do our best to make sure that our bins are in the correct locations at all times."

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