Council contractors paint 21-inch double yellow line in Kent

[dutchman]

Canterbury City Council have been criticised for painting a set of double yellow lines that are just 21 inches (53cm) long.



According to Yahoo, council members have claimed that the lines - which result in a £50 or £70 fine if occupied by a parked vehicle - are "crucial for separating different parking areas".

"The lines are in a small gap that separates the 20-minute restrictions and residents' pay and display parking bays," explained Bob Pollard, council street enforcement manager.

"If a vehicle is parked over the yellow lines, the driver could incur one of two penalties: primarily not parking within the confines of a parking space or technically for parking in a restricted street during prescribed hours.

"The lines were placed to differentiate between the two different types of parking bay and avoid confusion," he added.

Local resident Charlotte Sparrow said: "I can't believe the council would bother to paint yellow lines that short and then warn drivers that they face fines over for parking over something you can hardly see.

"It's petty rules and regulations gone mad."

"We would request drivers take care when parking and keep within the lines of the parking bays," continued Pollard. "By parking correctly, this will prevent them receiving a penalty charge notice."

The lines - which do not even span the length of a skateboard - are not the shortest in the UK. A set painted in a street in Norwich have been measured at just 17 inches (43cm).