Widow Gets Parking Ticket at Husbands Funeral

City Hall bosses have apologized after an over-zealous traffic warden slapped a parking ticket on the car of a grieving woman in Haworth West Yorkshire.

As Gail Steward prepared for the funeral of her husband, David Tetlow, on Friday, at Haworth Parish Church, her car — parked in the village’s Main Street — was ticketed.

The fine was given despite a plea by her and a friend, pub landlord Nick Hindle. Mrs Steward, who runs the business Haworth Organic Products, in Main Street, said: “I ran down the street crying — I was so upset. It was bad enough facing the funeral of my husband without getting a ticket.”

Later, after contact with Bradford Council, the ticket was rescinded, she added. Her car had been left partially across a double yellow line.

Mr Hindle, landlord of The Fleece, in Main Street, said he pleaded with the warden not to give the ticket.

“I saw him at the car and realized he was preparing to give a ticket.

“I rushed out and explained to him that it was the owner’s funeral that day and I would call for her. By the time I got back he had put the ticket on. I was infuriated at the insensitivity.

“I took hold of the ticket and threw it on the floor. We exchanged a few heated words — I think the whole thing was unacceptable,” he said.

Paul Ratcliffe, Bradford Council’s parking services manager, said: “We received a complaint from a member of the public about illegal parking in Haworth Main Street.

“We would like to apologize to the bereaved car owner for any distress caused and given the circumstances our civil enforcement officer asked for permission to cancel the ticket and this was done at the scene.”

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