Parking tickets issued to volunteers in Manchester city centre as they fed and supported the homeless have been cancelled by the council after a furious backlash. An MP who intervened in the case on behalf of the homeless outreach group involved hailed a 'fantastic win'.
Group's Work and the Event
Don't Walk Past is a volunteer-run community group, entirely funded by members and donations, that feeds and clothes rough sleepers across Manchester throughout the year multiple nights a week. Three times a year, the group also hosts special celebrations in St Peter's Square, as well as going to the square throughout the year to hand out food.
A pop-up event featuring various food stations, free hair cuts, clothes, drinks, an ice cream bar and even a free chiropodist station was held in the square on August 7. The volunteers involved said they needed to park their cars and vans at the site, arguing parking far away and transporting everything including hot food by foot would not be feasible.
Founder's Account and Fines
Founder Ronnie Hillyard said the group hadn't received a single parking fine in eight years, saying there was an 'unofficial agreement' in place with the council after the group got the personal support of Andy Burnham when he was the mayor of Greater Manchester. But the Manchester Evening News reported 10 of their vehicles were ticketed, amounting to more than £500 in fines.
Mr Hillyard said all vehicles clearly displayed the group's logo and said at the time: "The council knows that we do it three times a year because the council have been to visit us in the past. We're there for two hours and then we pack up, tidy up after ourselves and go."
"But this year we got a visit from two traffic wardens that we've never met before. They got their boss down who was a bit abrupt with us and then they ticketed all our cars. I said to the traffic warden, 'do you want to go and tell the more than 100 homeless people over there that we have to move?'"
MP's Intervention and Council Response
Now, though, the fines have been cancelled by the council. Heywood and Middleton North MP, Elsie Blundell, said her office contacted the council on behalf of the group, and the fines were cancelled. Posting to X, formerly Twitter, she hailed a 'fantastic casework win'.
Ms Blundell said: "I'm delighted that Manchester Council has cancelled this fine, letting these incredible volunteers focus on their vital work. We are lucky to have quite a few fantastic local groups supporting our community every single day."
A spokesperson for Manchester City Council said at the time the 10 vehicles were parked in a 'clearly inappropriate' place and that 'however well-intentioned they may be, there are strong accessibility and security considerations'. In a statement at the time, the council said: "St Peter's Square is a busy, pedestrianised public place where vehicles and parking are prohibited, unless in exceptional circumstances."
"Anyone observed by our enforcement officers parking on the square without permission will be ticketed, however well-intentioned they may be. There are strong accessibility and security considerations."
"In this case no fewer than 10 vehicles, including vans, were parked there without permission which is clearly inappropriate. We encourage all street kitchens to link in with homelessness services which can provide wider and long-term support for the underlying issues which the people accessing their food are facing, such as help with any health, addiction or debt issues."
However, a council spokesperson confirmed to the M.E.N. tickets issued to the vehicles have now been cancelled. No further statement has been issued.
