I was slapped with a £70 parking fine while I waited to get MARRIED

A GROOM was slapped with a £70 parking fine while he was waiting to get married.

Dominic Marshall, 31, was sitting in his truck outside Wokingham Town Hall in Berkshire when a parking warden handed him a ticket on June 11.

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Mr Marshall had pulled his truck, which had been festooned with wedding ribbons, into a loading bay about 2pm that afternoon.

He was waiting for his wife-to-be to arrive when he got the pricey surprise.

Mr Marshall said: “The first traffic warden walked past and didn’t say a word.

“Two minutes later his friend turned up and no matter what we did, I was getting a ticket, unless I drove it round the block.

“Being the groom, I thought it was slightly more important that I was at the altar rather than driving round the block.

“That was the agreed space from the council where it would be parked.

“We informed them we were coming in and we were told it would be alright in the loading bay opposite the town hall.

“It was too big to go down the side of the town hall because of the market.

“Being issued a £70 fine on one of the biggest days of your life – when weddings cost enough as it is anyway!

“He said the space is for loading only – so I pointed out I would be loading a bride into the lorry.”

Dominic tried desperately to reason with Wokingham Borough Council to reconsider but “received a one line response” of telling him “the appeals process that’s on the back of the ticket”.

But Wokingham Town Council has now agreed to pay the borough council for the ticket “as a gesture of goodwill”.

A spokesperson said: “Our wedding packages provide a space for two wedding cars on the market place and this is discussed with the couple during planning meetings with our Events Co-ordinator.

“Owing to market trading times and weight restrictions on the market place, we are unable to park anything bigger in our designated spaces.

“The loading bays, which are controlled by Wokingham Borough Council, are not available for parking and I have been unable to confirm with any staff member that a discussion had been held concerning parking in a loading bay area prior to the event.

“We do not have any control in cancelling any parking tickets issued by Wokingham Borough Council.

“We certainly do not want this event to overshadow Mr Marshall’s wedding day at the Town Hall, so as a gesture of goodwill Wokingham Town Council are willing to pay the fine issued.”

Dominic said: “I’m just happy that they’ve decided to do the right thing.”