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
It keeps being said that the coronavirus crisis is bringing the best and the worst out of people. In Kent it’s bringing the best out of the worst.
Traffic wardens have stopped issuing parking tickets to deliver food, prescriptions and run errands for vulnerable people on lockdown.
Sevenoaks District Council’s traffic wardens decided to help vulnerable people, who cannot get the supplies they need, by delivering food and prescription parcels during the lockdown.
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
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% 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.