Outrage over ticketing of blood transfusion van picking up donations

The Roads Service has been urged to cancel a ticket given to a Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service van

The Northern Ireland Roads Service is under increasing pressure to withdraw a parking ticket issued to a blood donation van outside a donation centre. Outraged donors and politicians have challenged the parking fine, which was imposed by a traffic warden in Downpatrick as Blood Transfusion staff collected donations.

While staffs were in the centre on Monday evening, they overran a one-hour parking restriction and their van was slapped with a ticket. They had been parking in the same spot every four months for 15 years without incident, while they used the adjacent church hall in Church Avenue where there is very limited parking. “I think this is completely outrageous and I am challenging it with the Department for Regional Development. The Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service provides a very important service,” said South Down MLA John McCallister (below).

The UUP man added: “Where will it all stop? Will they be issuing fines to the Ambulance Service, Fire Service or police even if they have a legitimate reason to park their vehicles there?” A similar row erupted in Carrickfergus earlier this year when a Blood Transfusion van was issued with a parking ticket outside a donation centre. The ticket was later withdrawn in the midst of public criticism.

NSL, the parking authority in charge of traffic wardens, has refused to back down in the most recent row, stating that such vehicles do not have any dispensation under the legislation to park in contravention of parking restrictions. “It is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service to ensure that their vehicles park legally,” a spokeswoman for NSL added.

But the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service said it remained hopeful that the issue could be resolved with the Department for Regional Development’s Roads Service division. “If a vehicle is parked illegally we cannot really complain. We could not be in a position where we criticise somebody for doing their job. However, we have spoken to the DRD and are hopeful we can resolve this,” said Paul McElkerney from the NIBTS.

SDLP MP Margaret Ritchie said the DRD should withdraw the parking ticket immediately. “It is totally unfortunate and unfair that this has happened. They are providing vital services in the area and have been parking in that spot for 15 years. “There are cases which I believe have exceptional circumstances and therefore discretion should be used. This is one of those cases. NIBTS should challenge this and I back them 100%,” Ms Ritchie added. DRD Roads Service said: “Anyone who receives a penalty charge notice has the opportunity to make a challenge if they feel it has been unjustly issued. “Any challenge must be done in writing and details are given on the back of the notice.”

 Source: Belfast Telegraph 

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