20 grand a year mayor won't have to pay his parking ticket...

A SMILING traffic warden walks away after posting a parking ticket on the borough Mayor’s car.

But the last laugh appears to be on the ordinary motorist as the ticket was later wiped out by council parking chiefs who say the rules don’t apply to the mayor’s car when it is on civic business.

The incident was captured on Saturday when the mayor’s car was parked on the pavement and across double yellow lines outside the Thameside Theatre in Grays.

Gazette reader Brian Chamberlain captured the incident on camera and sent in the pictures.

However, when the council were contacted by the Gazette today a spokesperson said: “The mayor’s car is exempt when it is on civic duties, parking tickets don’t apply. The traffic officer was doing his job but the ticket does not stand.”

Mr Chamberlain, a delivery driver who says it is incredibly difficult to park anywhere in Grays to do his job, said: “I have real problems with parking in Grays where it is incredibly difficult to park.

“At least he was consistent in giving the Mayor a ticket but it seems it’s a case of one rule for one and another for the council. I have to abide by the rules. Why should he be allowed to park where he wants, flouting the rules and causing an obstruction to pedestrians and then not have to pay.

"If I parked there, even for perfectly valid reasons to deliver goods, I would have to pay. It’s do as I say, not as I do.”