Parking tickets for charity runners

3:30pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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A FAST food chain was forced to make a u-turn after handing out parking fines to charity runners.

Several cars at McDonald's on Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, were given tickets on Sunday morning while their occupants were taking part in the Cancer Research Race for Life in Castle Park.

Lynda Hart, 27, of Glebe Road, Tiptree, was one of the motorists who received a ticket for using the car park for longer than 90 minutes.

She said: "We were taking part in the Race for Life and the Leisure World car park was full.

"There were about 13 of us in total and we decided we would park in the McDonalds car park and go in there for lunch afterwards.

"We parked up at around 9.55am and got back to the car about two hours later to find the parking ticket.

"I'm seven months pregnant and had my four-year-old daughter Jamie with me so I didn't want to park miles away.

"Ordinarily this would not have bothered me if I had parked there for my own benefit, but this was a charity day and they have taken all the pride I felt and turned it into pure anger."

McDonald's franchisee Cas Morehen said: "It is important to note that in general the new car parking system is being well received by our customers as they can now park near to our restaurant.

"This was an unfortunate situation and I am pleased that the enforcement company has agreed not to charge those supporting the worthy cause of the Race for Life."

He added the tickets had been given out by an enforcement company which McDonald's receives no money from.