Great Midlands Fun Run fines 'written off'

By hgreaves

GREAT Midlands Fun Runners who were issued with parking fines by the council will have their tickets revoked, the Observer can reveal.

Anyone who parked within Sutton's South Parade car park on the day of the run (May 31) will be let off the hook, but tickets issued to those parked illegally on the roadside or in other car parks will still stand.

In a statement issued yesterday, a spokesperson for Birmingham City Council said: "Councillor Len Gregory, (Cabinet Member for Transportation and Street Services), has reviewed the situation and as a gesture of goodwill, and without prejudice, he has decided that tickets issued to anyone in the South Parade Car Park on the day of the race, will be withdrawn.

"The situation arose because of a miscommunication between the event organiser and the Highways Department."

The move comes after a backlash of complaints, including a letter from Fun Run director, Paul Smith, were printed in the Observer.

Mr Smith said: "This is fantastic news; I am delighted the council has seen sense and reacted positively to complaints of runners who were unfortunate enough to get a parking ticket.

"I hope there will be no further problems at future events."

He added: "I think they should show evenhandedness and withdraw tickets from anyone who was legally parked and who paid for their parking in any of the town car parks."

Fun runner, Richard Green, of Four Oaks, was one of many runners who received a ticket.

He said: "This is the right thing to do, it is a shame it has had to go this far and that it had to happen in the first place.

"Hopefully, next year, they will have learnt a lesson and will help the decent people of Sutton Coldfield to find some alternative parking."

Paul Hogg, of Sutton, also wrote in to express his anger at the fines.

"I'm glad the council has seen sense and thank them for addressing issue," he said.

Anyone who was parked in the South Parade car park and received a ticket should contact the Parking Section, Highways Dept, Lancaster Circus, Birmingham B4 7DQ.