No parking tickets on flood-hit Herne Hill street after baker’s tweets

 
Victory: baker Anthony Kindred
TRAFFIC wardens have been banned from issuing tickets outside Herne Hill parade of flood-hit shops in south London, after traders took to Twitter to complain it was making business even worse. The Parade was left under a metre of water on August 7 after a
Rod Kitson10 October 2013

Traffic wardens have been banned from issuing tickets outside a parade of flood-hit shops in south London, after a trader took to Twitter to complain it was making business even worse.

Herne Hill was left under a metre of water on August 7 after a pipe burst, causing £4 million of damage and forcing more than 30 businesses to close. Just nine have fully reopened and traders estimate footfall in the area is down by 25 per cent.

Baker Anthony Kindred said parking attendants were driving customers away, as well as stopping builders repairing the shops.

He tweeted: “Why does Southwark council send traffic wardens to half moon lane all day. We’re trying to recover from flooding.”

Later he added: “Traffic warden patrolling Half Moon Lane from 8.30 gonna [sic] be a busy day not, thank you Southwark”, and “another day of parking gestapo, and guess what no customers after 12 o’clock”.

The council saw the tweets and agreed not to issue any more fines in the bays until further notice.

The 53-year-old baker said: “I was surprised — I was getting ready to have a right old row, but they agreed to help.”

Cassie Weimar, manager at hair salon The Fringe said: “It did make it hard for the builders.”

Southwark councillor Robin Crookshank Hilton said it was a “good result”, adding: “The traders need to be allowed to get on with the renovations.”

Thames Water is footing the bill for work and plans to install a £3 million drainage system.

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