Hello, it’s your friendly local TRAFFIC WARDEN! Parking officials ditch their bad reputation to deliver food parcels during coronavirus crisis (but they’ll be back on duty once lockdown ends)
- Traffic wardens in Kent stopped issuing parking tickets to deliver food parcels
- Traffic is down 80 per cent so wardens can get supplies for the vulnerable
- People can get help at www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/requesthelp or call 01732 227000
Traffic wardens are still being paid despite there being hardly any cars left on the road during lockdown – so councils are paying them to deliver supplies instead.
Parking officials in Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling in Kent are still being paid their full salaries by the council when traffic nationwide is down 80 per cent.
Car park and street parking charges have also been suspended with wardens only sent out on a case-by-case basis to settle disputes.
With their usual jobs almost redundant, local councils have given them jobs delivering food and medical supplies to the elderly and vulnerable who are self-isolating.
Sevenoaks District Council’s traffic wardens in Kent decided to help people who cannot the supplies they need by delivering food and prescriptions parcels during the lockdown
Both Sevenoaks and Malling and Tonbridge Councils have reassigned their parking wardens the tasks of delivering food and prescription parcels to those unable to leave their homes.
They are employed directly by the council and have not been ‘furloughed’ as others in different industries have because they cannot do their jobs.
Councillor Lesley Dyball said: ‘In these uncertain times, we are taking on new roles to support older and vulnerable residents who cannot leave the house during the coronavirus outbreak.
‘Residents who need help with their shopping, picking up prescriptions, walking the dog or posting their mail or would like a friendly chat over the phone can sign up to the council’s Care for our Community scheme.
‘I am really proud that our traffic wardens have stepped up to provide a lifeline to those in greatest need.’
Parking will still be monitored by traffic wardens making limited patrols to make sure emergency vehicles still have safe access to wherever they need to go.
AA president Edmund King said: ‘It is great that these parking attendants are helping the vulnerable during this crisis.
‘We know that they are sometimes given a hard time for just doing their job but these acts of kindness will be remembered.
‘As traffic is down almost 80 per cent in places it is great to see them redeployed for the greater good.
‘Likewise at the AA we are adapting and have offered a free breakdown service for all 1.5 million NHS employees and our patrols are also assisting ambulance services in London, East of England and the West Midlands to get more ambulances on the roads to save lives.’
Vulnerable people in Sevenoaks can register for help on the council’s website or call 01732 227000.