A local council has been forced to issue an apology after parking fines were handed out to residents displaced by a major explosion in Alvaston.
The Penalty Charge Notices were issued on Friday morning to vehicles parked on double yellow lines on Eden Street despite being told to move.
But the move has left locals angry as they were forced to relocate their cars due to ongoing demolition work following the explosion.
But in response to the fury, the council swiftly cancelled all tickets after facing criticism from affected residents and the wider community.
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The parking charges were cancelled by the council after drivers complained about the unfair measures
GETTY/DERBY CITY COUNCIL
A council spokesperson said: "We understand that this has been a difficult and stressful period for the community, and we apologise for any additional frustration caused this morning when a small number of parking tickets were mistakenly issued."
The explosion on Eden Street occurred at approximately 7.24pm on June 10, when emergency services responded to a 999 call reporting the incident.
One terraced property suffered significant damage in the blast, with several adjoining properties also impacted by structural damage. A man was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, where he remains in critical condition according to the most recent updates.
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service teams also rescued a dog from the rubble, which was subsequently handed over to veterinary care.
The Health and Safety Executive launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion, working alongside emergency services.
Three properties required demolition due to the extent of the damage, with complex work beginning shortly after the incident and continuing through the week.
Residents who had been unable to park outside their homes due to the road closure and demolition work were forced to use the London Road end of Eden Street on Friday morning.
With their usual parking spaces inaccessible because of the ongoing safety works, they had no choice but to leave their vehicles on double yellow lines.
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Drivers were issued tickets for parking on double yellow lines
GETTYWhen the street briefly reopened on June 20, parking enforcement officers issued penalties to multiple vehicles. Among those fined was a van belonging to gas distribution company Cadent, whose workers were actively involved in making the area safe following the explosion.
One Eden Street resident who lived directly opposite the explosion site said: "I park here because I am not able to park outside of my house due to the construction works closing that part of the road. I have nowhere else to park on the street, so I think it's disgusting that I have been fined."
The council explained the tickets were issued because a low loader attempting to remove an excavator from the demolition site had been blocked by the parked vehicles.
"This created an urgent need to clear the area quickly so the excavator could be removed and the road reopened," the council statement read. However, the authority acknowledged that the enforcement action was inappropriate given the exceptionalcircumstances facing residents.
Derby council received heavy backlash for issuing parking tickets
PAAll penalty charge notices issued that morning were immediately cancelled once the error was recognised. The council confirmed that despite the need to keep the area clear for construction vehicles, they should have taken a different approach rather than issuing fines to residents who had "no alternative parking options" during the ongoing emergency works.
Social media erupted with criticism following the incident, with residents taking to Facebook to express their frustration at the council's actions.
One commenter wrote: "Absolute scumbags, putting tickets on residents' cars soon as the street reopened. We cannot park outside our home as 3 houses are currently being demolished."
Another resident suggested the council should have "knocked on a few doors next time" rather than issuing tickets to clear the area.
The incident was widely shared on local community pages, with many describing it as a "money-making exercise" and calling the timing "disgusting" given what residents had already endured.
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