The parking firm that issued a ticket on an ambulance has been suspended from carrying out patrols.
Footage of a parking enforcement officer giving a ticket to protesting ambulance workers who had stopped to buy water from a store has gone viral online after cameraman Ian French filmed the heated exchange.
Now, LCP Group have suspended patrols and enforcement in the car park, saying they were “very disappointed” that members of the emergency services had “an issue” with a parking officer.
A statement by the company read: “As owners of Kingsmead Square, in Northwich, we are of course very disappointed to see that members of the emergency services have had an issue with a parking officer.
“LCP supports all of our emergency services, and their staff and vehicles are regular visitors to our shopping centres and retail parades across the UK, where they are always welcome.
“We employ Euro Parking Services (EPS) to manage the parking at Kingsmead Square to ensure that everyone that wants to shop can do so without any unnecessary hindrance while using the car park.
“On this occasion, we do not agree with the parking officer’s interpretation of the parking restrictions relating to emergency vehicles.
“A full review of the EPS contract will be undertaken at this site.
“In the meantime all enforcement and patrols at Kingsmead Square have been stopped and EPS will not be visiting site again pending completion of the review.”
In a statement Adrian Nesbitt, HR manager for the firm, said: “It is a mistake on our part, we will contact the ambulance service to offer our apologies and put together a full training package to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
“The ambulance service is very important to our community, we don’t want to hinder them and we’re very saddened by the situation.”