Ref. 27980-06TRAFFIC wardens in Swindon have had to show their compassionate side by not penalising motorists caught out by the recent postal strike.

Swindon Council has revealed that during the strike, it allowed a four-day period of grace after the £30 fines were due to be paid.

Normally, the £30 tickets are automatically increased to £60 if they are not paid within 14 days.

Many motorists who left it until the last minute to post their cheques were caught out by the strike, which disrupted deliveries between October 30 and November 3.

The council accepted this as mitigating circumstances, and waived the automatic increase.

But not all motorists are happy.

Carole Crawford, from Cricklade, claims she was still caught out by the industrial action.

She was issued with a £30 ticket while parked in Stanmore Street, Swindon which had to be paid by October 30.

Although she posted her cheque the day before, it didn't arrive at the council until November 4.

The council is still charging her £60 because it says the strike hadn't started when she posted her money.

Mrs Crawford, 35, of Chelworth Road, Cricklade, says she left it so late to pay because she was on holiday in Scotland.

Mrs Crawford said: "I was in tears when I got the letter saying I had to pay £60.

"It's not so much the money, but the principle.

"I am an honest person, and paid the fine in time.

"I wasn't my fault it was delayed, it was the fault of the postal workers.

"It was definitely delayed because of the strike."

But Gavin Calthrop, for Swindon Council, which took over responsibility for enforcing parking restrictions from the police in September, dismissed her claim.

He said: "Tickets issued on October 16 would have been due for payment on October 30, before the postal strike began.

"This dispute cannot therefore be considered mitigating circumstances for late payment."

He added that Mrs Crawford could have paid over the phone by bank cards or in person at the council offices.

Around 40 traffic wardens patrol the streets of Swindon.

Since September, the council has issued 4,850 penalty tickets. This could lead to £150,000 revenue, and so far £65,000 has been banked. Motorists have 14 days to pay the £30 fine, which is doubled.

They then have a further 42 days to pay £60.

Tamash Lal