Wakefield Council leader Denise Jeffery reports herself to parking authorities after pictures emerge online
The leader of Wakefield Council has reported herself to parking authorities following a post shared on social media.
Labour leader Denise Jeffery was accused of breaking parking laws by Tory opposition leader Nadeem Ahmed. Coun Ahmed shared a post on his Facebook page, which included a number of photographs of a silver Mini Countryman parked on double yellow lines in the city.
He said: “When the Labour Leader of Wakefield Council thinks it ok to park ILLEGALLY on double yellow lines but cancels 2 hours of free parking in Wakefield City Centre for residents.”
Responding to the post, Wakefield Council issued a statement on behalf of Coun Jeffery – claiming the photographs were at least a year old. It read: “This is not a recent photograph. I have not driven that car for well over a year but accept that it does look like my previous car.
"I do apologise unreservedly. I’ve reported it to parking services and they will be issuing me with a fine. I will be of course be paying the full penalty.”
Parking charges in council-run car parks across the Wakefield district returned in April, as the local authority looked to make savings to tackle a £24m budget shortfall. Two hours’ free parking had been in place at many of the district’s off-street car parks since the start of the pandemic in April 2020.
Speaking at a council meeting earlier this year, Coun Jeffery said the situation was “disappointing” but that the council had “no alternative” to reintroducing the charges.