COLLEGE staff used a town centre car park for the first time...and became victims of a clampdown by attendants.

And even a council boss was booked in the blitz on four Burnley car parks.

Burnley College has arranged with the council to use St Peter's car park while part of the college's own car park is unavailable because of building works.

But attendants who man the four long-stay car parks had an unannounced crackdown on motorists who had failed to renew their quarterly permits, not bought a ticket or, as with the college staff, had not parked in the right place.

They booked 27 vehicles on Curzon Street, Centenary Way, Finsley Gate and St Peter's for out-of-date passes, not having a ticket or not parking on the correct level.

Drivers were ordered to pay £20 within two weeks, or £40 after that time but if it went to court motorists could face a fine of up to £1,000.

One of those booked for not renewing his pass within two weeks was Geoff Fairhurst, council engineering and highway services manager!

He said: "I had renewed my pass, but had not had chance to put the new permit in the car windscreen when I found I had been booked."

British Legion staff who man the car parks faced an angry reception from some motorists.

One said: "There was no allowance for people who had been on holiday for the previous two weeks and there was no warning given that they were going to have a clampdown."

Burnley College sorted the problem out with the council and none of the fines will be upheld, but marketing manager Tom Lemmon said some staff had a difficulty in knowing where they were supposed to park because none of the levels are numbered.

A council spokesman said two weeks was a fair amount of time for permits to be renewed.

The council aims to use parking money from the college to upgrade the car parks and number the floors.

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