Furious paramedic confronts 'idiot' parking warden after he slaps a ticket on her AMBULANCE when she stops at Tesco to buy a drink during busy shift (but social media is divided over who is in the right)

• Parking warden slapped ticket on ambulance left on yellow lines outside a Tesco
• Witnesses criticised him for action but he refused to listen to their complaints
• Paramedic said vehicle is too big for bays and she was stopping for water
• Car park landlord is reviewing contract with operator Euro Parking Services

This is the moment a car park warden sparks outrage at a Tesco Express after slapping an ambulance with a ticket after it was left on a double yellow line.

The worker is confronted by a witness filming the incident before he has a row with the paramedic outside the shop entrance.

Other shoppers come to her aid and try to reason with the warden, who refuses to back down.

The astonishing confrontation ends with the paramedic saying to the warden 'If you ever need an ambulance...' before shrugging and walking away. 

It prompted outrage on social media with even television presenter Nick Knowles admonishing the worker on Twitter.

But others have defended the warden claiming he was just doing his job and the paramedic should have done more to find a suitable space. 

The warden, pictured, told the paramedic and witnesses the vehicle should not have been left on yellow lines and refused to listen to their arguments

Many people on social media slammed the warden for being overzealous and a 'jobsworth'.

But others supported the warden and said he was justified in handing out the ticket.

An aerial view of Kingsmead Square where the incident took place yesterday.

The car park is part of a private retail park owned by London & Cambridge Properties who employ Euro Parking Services to monitor parking. 

The firm said it was 'disappointed' at the incident and would be reviewing its contract with EPS.

It is unknown exactly how much the fine was but typically private car park tickets are usually between £70 and £100. 

EPS confirmed the fine was picked up on its internal system and 'cancelled within the hour' and the warden would keep his job.

The company added it had apologised to the ambulance service, was making a donation to its funds and would be changing its training procedures to ensure such an incident does not happen again.

Uproar has broken out on social media, with several Twitter users backing the paramedic.

DIY SOS presenter Knowles also criticised Tesco over the incident and said the firm was 'abdicating its social responsibility' if it did not help solve the situation.

Addressing Tesco, he wrote on Twitter: 'So you don’t feel you can support an emergency services worker stopping at your store for water - not your problem?'

He added the supermarket was 'morally separating itself' from the problem by outsourcing its parking management.

DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles criticised Tesco over the 'ridiculous' incident and demanded they talk to the parking firm to revoke the ticket.

After Tesco contacted him to confirm they do not own or operate the car park or its management, Knowles asked whether the firm would support the emergency services and get involved on the paramedic's behalf.

When contacted by Tesco, who told him it did not own the car park and was not responsible for enforcing car park fines, he added: 'Could you please supply us with the name of the company so WE might ask them to be more supportive of ES workers?

'Will you be talking to the parking company to express your concerns? After all - every little helps? Or not?'

Meanwhile other Twitter users were quick to become angry over the situation. 

One said: 'He spent that long arguing with her she could have been in, had lunch, her bottle of water and watched a film. Jobsworth.'

Another added: 'Disabled permit holders and vehicles loading are permitted to stop of double yellows (expect with dashes on kerb). 

'Emergency service crews are more important, it's integral having them refreshed and not a five minute walk from their vehicle where possible.' 

But others supported the warden, with one Twitter user said: 'For real? the guy is %100 (sic) right. The ambu (sic) was not on call and illegally parked.'

The warden then had a row with the paramedic after she told him she only stopped for a drink and the vehicle was 'too big for a bay'.

The warden was also adamant the paramedic was 'not on call' and was 'getting lunch'.

The footage begins with a conversation between the man filming the incident and the warden, with the cameraman asking why the ambulance was ticketed when it was 'on call'.

The warden said: 'It's not on call. It's not on call. She was having lunch. Where are the sirens? It is parked up on a double yellow line.'

The cameraman replied: 'They don't use the sirens when they are parked up you idiot.'

But the warden was unmoved and continued to stress the paramedic was 'getting food'. 

She then returned to the vehicle and asked where she was supposed to leave the ambulance.

The paramedic continued to argue and ended the conversation by saying 'If you ever need an ambulance...' before shrugging her shoulders and walking off.

The incident happened in Cheshire and the vehicle belonged to North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

She said: 'Where would you like me to park? It won't go in a bay; I can't fit it. I'm not going to leave it in a disabled space.

'I've been on since 6.45am this morning; I've had nothing to drink and nothing to eat and now I would like to go to Tesco to get some water.' 

The heated exchange was filmed by outraged passerby Ian French, who claims the cap-wearing attendant told him he was 'proud' of issuing the ticket.

Mr French, 47, said: 'I felt so strongly about the unfairness of what was happening that I started filming on my iPhone, hoping to bring attention to what was happening to the hardworking paramedics.

'I believe they were just collecting some food and water eight hours into their shift.

'It is a private parking firm working for the landlord, who I believe owns the car park and the businesses around it.

'The parking enforcement signs were only installed a few weeks ago. The locals are not happy about it, nor are some of the businesses.' 

The paramedic's words had no impact on the warden, who said: 'I understand. That's fine, but you can't be parking on a double yellow line can you?'

Meanwhile the cameraman continued to insist she was on call and should be able to leave the vehicle there in case she has to leave quickly for an emergency.   

The incident happened at Kingsmead Square, Northwich, Cheshire, at around 3pm on Tuesday. 

A spokesman for LCP said: '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.' 

How to beat a parking ticket? Fight it! (Half of drivers who contest fines win) 

Steep car parking fines are a modern day curse, raking in millions of pounds every year for private firms and cash-starved councils.

Although car park operators are using increasingly sinister tactics to ensure these fines are paid, victims can hit back. About half of fines challenged are overturned.

The latest trick being employed by firms is to pay the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency to provide private address details that can be traced from a car number plate.

Armed with this information, the companies – running car parks at hospitals, shopping centres and restaurants – are sending threatening letters demanding up to £100 in fines.

Last year, a record 4.7million people had their addresses bought for £2.50 a piece by car park operators, earning the agency almost £12million.

Philip Gomm, of The RAC Foundation, says: ‘Fines sent through the post often use intimidating wording and extortionate charges are often levied for minor infringements – such as accidentally overstaying in a car park by just a few minutes.’

Private companies earn an estimated £500million a year from issuing parking fines. While equivalent data is not available from councils, they pocket at least £750million from a combination of car parking charges and fines.

Parking campaigner Barrie Segal, who runs website AppealNow, says: ‘They are the modern-day version of Dick Turpin, acting like outlaws by making outrageously unfair penalty demands. It is a huge money-spinner for them.’ Key to the success of many car park operators is the use of bullying tactics.

If you pay up in 14 days, they say, the penalty amount will be halved, panicking most motorists to foot the bill rather than fight a charge.

There is also the threat of sending debt collectors round if a fine goes unpaid, though bailiffs cannot go knocking on a door without first going to court. What the parking attendants fail to reveal is that half of motorists who fight a fine eventually win. But you must arm yourself with information and have the stomach for a fight.

PREPARE FOR APPEAL 

If you have been issued with a ticket you deem to be unfair do not hand over any cash. If you do, you are effectively admitting responsibility.

While half of all appeals succeed, be prepared for a lengthy process.

Jeanette Miller is managing director of national motoring law specialist Geoffrey Miller Solicitors. She says: ‘It rarely pays to hire a lawyer in cases involving disputed car parking fines. But if you are aware of the law and do your homework it will boost your chances of success.’

She points out that The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 was introduced to stamp out car clamping. But as a concession to the car park operators, it paved the way for private firms to chase motorists using details gleaned from the DVLA.

Under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999, any sums demanded must be deemed ‘fair and reasonable’. But this still means an £85 fine for overstaying by a few minutes might be deemed fair in a court of law if it is seen as a legitimate deterrent.

Miller, president of the Association of Motor Offence Lawyers, adds: ‘Take time to prepare a case, do not just get angry. Revisit the car park, take photos, write targeted letters and be prepared to attend court.’

A spokesman for EPS added: 'On Tuesday, JUly 24, 2018, a PCN (Parking Charge Notice) was issued to an ambulance that was parked on double yellow lines at the Kingsmead Centre car park, whilst the ambulance crew were getting some refreshments in the vicinity.

'Euro Parking Services were contracted to remedy the issues this car park was facing, particularly the contravention of parking on double yellow lines.

'We have internal measures in place to intercept any wrongfully issued PCNs before they are processed.

'As a result, this PCN has been overturned by Euro Parking Services and we have spoken to the ambulance service this morning to offer our apologies and to reassure them that this matter will not be taken any further.

'We recognise that a mistake was made by our parking attendant and have taken immediate action to rectify this situation. In addition, we will be following our internal procedures to investigate this matter further with the warden concerned to ensure situations similar to this will not be repeated in future.

'The incident has highlighted the need to retrain our wardens on how to deal with members of the uniformed services, not least the ambulance services.

'Parking management plays an important role in improving this car park by making it safer and user friendly through the maintenance of the flow of traffic. Since we began managing this car park, we have seen positive results. For example, we have successfully reduced the number of vehicles parked on double yellow lines. We would like to reassure members of the public and our communities that as an organisation, we are committed to providing a first class and professional service.

'Euro Parking Services would like to offer its sincere apologies to the ambulance service concerned and to the crewmembers that were on duty at the time of this incident. To this extent, Euro Parking Services will be making a donation to the ambulance service as a gesture of our appreciation for the fantastic service they provide to our communities.'