ANGRY residents have hit out after traffic wardens were seen issuing tickets in Minchinhampton on the morning of Remembrance Sunday.

Apcoa parking wardens, who enforce parking on behalf of Gloucestershire County Council, ticketed four cars prior to a well-attended service at the war memorial.

Nick Hurst, chairman of Minchinhampton Parish Council, confirmed that among those ticketed were people attending the remembrance event.

He described the decision to penalise them as ‘insensitive’ and ‘morally indefensible’.

“I appreciate that some of the individuals were parked on double-yellow lines,” he said.

“But these lines are intended to ensure that traffic keeps flowing, and on this particular Sunday the road was completely filled with people respecting the dead.

“I cannot believe that the council made a conscious decision to send out enforcement officers on such a solemn day.”

Gloucestershire County Council confirmed that four tickets had been issued on Sunday morning in Minchinhampton, all before 11am.

In a statement, GCC parking manager Jim Daniels said: “The cars were parked on double yellow lines, with one vehicle parked on the pavement.

“There was alternative parking available and without a blue badge these cars were parked illegally.”

County councillor Rachel Smith (Green, Minchinhampton) vowed to take the issue up with senior officers at Shire Hall.

“The act of remembrance is an important moment for the community to come together,” she said. “While it may be true that some cars were parked illegally, there needs to be some discretion and thoughtfulness by parking enforcement officers when issuing fines.”

GCC said: "Residents have the option to lodge an appeal on any ticket issued and, if they are still unhappy with the outcome, they can pursue the matter with the Traffic Penalty Tribunal."