Two staff suspended over car park scam

NCP, employed by Bury Council to enforce car parking, took the action after the Bury Times last week revealed how identical photos -- but with different dates -- were used to challenge driver Kevin McGuire's appeal against a parking fine.

The company has apologised to the council for "the actions of individual NCP employees which has brought the integrity of both organisations into question". Investigations are proceeding -- and NCP is now examining every single photograph its wardens have taken for appeal purposes.

Bury Council is also doing an investigation into the deception, and says it has -- so far -- not uncovered any wrongdoing by its own staff.

The controversy follows a scathing report by the independent National Parking Adjudication Service (NPAS). Mr McGuire appealed against receiving a £60 fine after parking in Market Place on August 31 last year, saying there were no "no parking" signs. The council produced photographs to back up its case: but adjudicator Sarah Breach said they were identical, but one had its date altered to the previous day.

Councillor Stella Smith, executive member for environment and transport, told Wednesday's council meeting that preliminary findings suggested that this was a one-off incident. The parking scheme had worked well in combating illegal and dangerous parking, she said.

But angry Tories demanded that the council rip up its contract with NCP, and called on Coun Smith to resign.

Tory councillor David Higgin, in a written question, said: "Most people in this town will not believe that this has been a one-off.

"The council has spent the last year or so alienating the parking public to such an extent that untold numbers of letters to the Bury Times have been forthcoming, describing how they have been unfairly treated by the council and NCP as the council's agents.

"Now that the chickens have come home to roost, is this not the time to be conciliatory and to admit that the bully-boy tactics have done the council's reputation no good at all?"

Tory leader Roy Walker accused Coun Smith of being complacent, and suggested she "review her position".

"We have had many examples of bad practice by NCP, such as lack of discretion and insensitivity. This is putting visitors off coming here -- we are being treated as a laughing stock in the Press and on TV."

But Coun Smith denied the council was being complacent, saying it would condemn any attempt to deliberately tamper with evidence.

"Should the allegations of malpractice be proven, the council will act firmly and swiftly to deal with those involved and appropriate action will be taken to ensure that there will be no recurrence."

Coun Smith said that NCP's contract runs until 2007. "The role of NCP is under scrutiny as part of these investigations and if there is any sign of company malpractice, this will dealt with under the terms of the agreement."

However, she pointed out that NCP had won the contract for the quality and price of its tender. It would be lengthy and expensive for the council to change, she said.

Coun Smith admitted there had been problems with the scheme at the beginning, which she attributed to staff training or misunderstandings.

But she said the attitude of drivers also had to change. "People park on double yellow lines, in the wrong lanes, mis-use disabled parking, and a culture has grown up where some people think they can get away with it. It has to change."

A council scrutiny panel will examine the investigation at its next meeting on February 19.

Mr McGuire has made a complaint to the police about the incident. "Officers have interviewed me and they took photocopies of everything involved in my case," he said.

He has also written to Bury Council demanding to know what action has been taken against the two attendants who erected the suspension sign and gave him a penalty charge notice.

Mr McGuire also wants to find out whether the authority will reimburse all the other motorists who he says were "unlawfully ticketed" on the same day.