AN irate builder is refusing to pay a £25 parking fine slapped on his van while he was carrying out work.

John Prior, from Snape, near Bedale, claims over zealous parking enforcement is causing chaos for many people and badly affecting towns like Bedale where people are being frightened away.

“It’s just a nonsense, I really can’t believe it. I appealed after I got the penalty notice thinking they would see sense, but they’ve refused to cancel it.”

Mr Prior was carrying out work on the chimney of the Chinese take away at North End in Bedale Market Place. The only access was at the rear so he had to park on the market place and move his van forward in a parking area to open the full length boot to take out scaffolding polls because there was a lamp post in the way.

“It was only edged forward, there was plenty of room on the cobbles in front, but when I came back round there was a penalty notice on the windscreen, I was furious.

"There have been so many other people in the town who have been done for stupid reasons, I really do not see why I should pay it.”

A spokesman for Scarborough Borough Council which operates parking enforcement for North Yorkshire County Council said they were unable to discuss individual cases, but any driver who is dissatisfied can appeal to an independent adjudicator.