RESIDENTS have criticised a decision to send two parking wardens to patrol a town centre on Sunday evening - while residents and visitors enjoyed an official fireworks display.

Northallerton celebrated the 50th anniversary of its free, official bonfire and fireworks display on Sunday, November 5, which had been organised by Northallerton Town Council and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Organisers urged “as many people and families from across the town and neighbouring villages” to attend and ahead of the event, Northallerton Mayor Cllr John Forrest urged residents to unite and “show spirit” following the arrest of two Northallerton boys by counter terrorism police.

But as the bonfire was being lit at 7pm at The Applegarth and the first fireworks were being shot into the sky shortly afterwards, two parking wardens were busy placing tickets on cars.

A total of 15 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were issued in Northallerton by parking enforcement officers from Scarborough Borough Council, who are contracted to enforce parking on the main streets in Northallerton by North Yorkshire County Council.

Most of those to receive tickets had parked at the north end of the High Street, where coaches wait during the day.

The town’s main car park, Applegarth, was largely taken up with the bonfire and fair. Hambleton District Council had parking available at Crosby Road and The Forum, but some people have claimed that for people travelling from out of town these car parks weren’t easy to locate.

Several people took to Facebook to vent their feelings, on local news site Northallerton Views. One resident posted; “Where should people from out of town park exactly? When the biggest place to park is taken over by an event that we want and invite people from local towns to attend? The problem is not with people parking it’s the council not providing enough places to park!”

Others said people could have avoided by parking in the correct places, with another posting: “Several people have had tickets for being in loading bays, if you park legal you don’t get ticketed! Everyone moans about parking, then when they enforce it, they moan! You can’t have it both ways.”

Resident Nigel Lowe said he didn’t receive a penalty notice, but he felt annoyed after seeing two wardens placing tickets on cars as he left the display. He said the town council had encouraged people from outside Northallerton to visit the town for the display and then given them a parking penalty at 7.15pm on a Sunday in return.

“It took my breath away to be honest,” he said.

“Nobody had blocked anybody in, it was common sense parking.

“In one breath they want people to come and join in Northallerton’s celebration, then they do this. It’s shooting themselves in the foot.

“Who sent them? To send two seems malicious. Technically they were right, morally they were wrong. Was it worth it for all the hassle and ill-feeling it caused? I don’t think so.”

Mayor of Northallerton, Cllr John Forrest said overall the night was a success with a record crowd of 4,000 to 5,000 visitors. He added: “I understand there were quite a few parking tickets handed out though, particularly to people who left their cars in the bus park.”

A spokesperson for Scarborough Borough Council’s parking team said: “On the evening of 5 November we issued a total of 15 PCNs in the High Street area. Seven were issued for parking in a restricted bus stop or stand, four for parking in a disabled bay without displaying a valid disabled badge, three for parking in a loading bay during restricted hours and one for parking illegally in a restricted street.

“We realise the town centre was busier than normal due to the fireworks display taking place nearby but to quote just one of the many comments in support of parking enforcement on the social media page, Northallerton Views: “5th November or not; park illegally, get a ticket.”