Blackburn with Darwen Council accused of 'hypocrisy' over illegally parked car

On Tuesday, May 9, at around 8.45am in Police Street, Darwen, a Skoda Octavia estate bearing the Blackburn with Darwen Council logo on its door was seen parked on double-yellow lines outside Darwen Health Centre.

A man who saw and took a photo of the car described it as “hypocritical” from the local authority, and now a council boss has said its staff will get a talking to about their behaviour in future.

The man, who asked to remain anonymous, said it was brazen "hypocrisy" that the council vehicle was parked illegally – when the public are "punished" and fined for such parking on a regular basis.

He said: “It’s plain and simple hypocrisy. The council are always punishing people and collecting money through fines for exactly this type of thing.

“Not only was the car on double-yellows, but it was also blocking access to the bus stop.”

NO PARKING: The car was parked on the double-yellow lines on Police Street, Darwen

It's not the first time council vehicles have courted controversy at the hands of bad parking.

In 2008, people were outraged when the Mayor’s BMW 7-Series was parked in a bus stop and a disabled bay without getting a ticket.

In 2017, the mayoral Audi saloon was spotted parked on double-yellow lines outside the village home of then-Mayor Cllr Colin Rigby.

In response to the photograph in question, Martin Eden, strategic director of environment and operations at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said the vehicle had been parked there as it was "delivering and collecting mail", but stopped short of apologising for the conduct of the council worker who left it there.

He said: “The Council vehicle in question was parked at Darwen Health Centre collecting and delivering mail.

“We have reminded colleagues to park in the car park in future and not on the double yellow lines.”