GWYNEDD Council has been accused of issuing parking tickets on land it does not own in Barmouth.

The council may be forced to pay back hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds after issuing tickets to drivers, even though the land is private property.

A lay-by across the road from the railway station has been designated a taxi rank by Gwynedd Council, despite the fact the land is owned by W E Black Estate Agents, which owns the entire Cambrian Court complex on Marine Parade.

Former town councillor Deana Fisher was issued a £70 ticket after taking her eight-week-old puppy to Williams Vets and parking in the taxi rank.

After filing a complaint that the fine was invalid, it was rescinded by county council staff in an email seen by the Cambrian News.

Eric Gadsden, of W E Black said he was gobsmacked by Gwynedd Council’s actions.

“I’ve dealt with some bad councils over the years but [Gwynedd] is one of the worst.

“I’ve no idea who decided to put a taxi rank there in the first place and why they didn’t check who owned the land, but I was completely unaware of the whole matter until people started complaining about parking tickets.”

Read the full story in today’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News