A council has backed a traffic warden’s “nonsensical” decision to issue a parking ticket to a member of staff who had parked close to a pedestrian crossing while he was cleaning Halstead town centre.

Bemused resident Roger Ellis, of Chapel Street, is furious at the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) for fining a man he says is doing a fine job keeping the town clean and tidy.

He felt a warning would have sufficed.

The worker was allegedly ticketed in Halstead town centre.

But Braintree Council has backed the parking partnership’s decision. A spokesman said: “The same rule applies for all vehicles and it would unfair to other motorists if an exception was made.”

A NEPP spokesman added: "Parking on zig zag markings at a pedestrian crossing is potentially dangerous for pedestrians using the crossing and a penalty charge notice was therefore issued.”

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