Tuesday 17 May 2011

The lady who came to shop in Hay



Hear the one about the young lady who came to Hay to do some shopping?

No? Well, last week a young lady from out of town came to Hay to spend some of her hard earned money in the shops in Hay. Not surprising really, in Hay there are over thirty book shops, an antiques market and several antique shops, numerous ladies’ fashion shops, a number of galleries and gift shops, at least a dozen cafes, pubs and restaurants and almost too many other temptations to mention.

Anyway, this young lady, being a law abiding citizen, went to park her car in the town centre car park, only to find it was full!

She drove up and down the rows to no avail, until at last, spying two Powys County Council vans with their two traffic warden (sorry Civil Enforcement Officer) occupants leaning on their bonnets and having a good old chin wag, she thought. “I know, I’ll park on the end of one of the rows of cars, close to the wardens’ vans, buy a ticket and go off and do my shopping.”

Two hours later, several carrier bags heavier and several pounds lighter, this good lady returned to her car only to espy a black and yellow ticket on her windscreen. The two friendly wardens (sorry CEOs) conscientious of their bounden duty had duly booked her for illegal parking.

“But I thought the wardens would have said something to me if I was parking illegally, they were standing just where I parked!.” “Aren’t they there to help, not just to issue tickets?”

Result - two happy Powys employees who have done their bit to add to the council’s coffers; and one very unhappy and rather poorer visitor.

Guess who won’t be coming back to Hay in a hurry?

Oh yes, she has complained to the council – let’s see with what result!

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