© Stoke Sentinel/James Maloney Nick Knowles is furious after seeing drivers fined at a Christmas event in Cirencester.Nick Knowles, host of TV show DIY SOS, has expressed his anger after a motorist was fined for parking during a Christmas market in Cirencester. At the weekend, the city government organizes a two-day festive party and on Saturday the Christmas lights are switched on.
Mr Knowles, who lives near Cirencester, yesterday published a photo of a windscreen fine issued by Gloucestershire County Council. He tweeted: "Congratulations Cirencester and Gloucester cnclls. Set up a Christmas market to bring shoppers into town, and when they do and the lot is full of your tickets, everyone parks their whole shift in yellow on Sunday!
"What a great way to support local businesses by taking people along."
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The star's suggestion that the Borough Council should be more lenient in enforcing parking during the Christmas event has polarized opinion. Most who commented on his tweets either shared his views and believed the regional council was being tough, or disagreed with him and believed it was the drivers' fault for violating parking rules.
One of them said: “My wife works as a traffic controller, there are Christmas markets in the towns she patrols, they are advised not to pay a fine unless they park dangerously. Some areas just don't seem to make sense."
But another member said, "If you break the law, you should be punished, right?"
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Solicitor Joe Harris, who represents Cirencester on County Council and is also Chairman of Cotswold County Council, tweeted: "No one will be penalized for visiting the city - free parking in all Cirencester car parks on Sundays. This is a fine for violating street parking rules like yellow line, no return within 1 hour etc.
Media personality Jeremy Vine takes over. He tweeted: "Great job. Children on their feet have priority, not adults who put large metal cages in inappropriate places."
In response, Mr Knowles said: "He's still angry with me because I'm accusing him of misrepresenting police stories - he criticizes every day but gets very angry when he's criticized." Kind of sad.
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"It's all personal, so I've been waiting for a car story for years."
Gloucestershire Regional Council has been contacted for comment.
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