Food charity relocates over city traffic camera fear

A charity which serves food to homeless people said a new traffic camera has forced it to move a location to avoid the risk of volunteers being fined.

Three charities have provided free meals for 12 years from the roadside inside Nottingham's clear zone pedestrianised area.

But the city council recently installed a new automatic number plate recognition camera which is flagging their cars, which Guru Nanak's Mission has said means it has had to abandon its city centre pitch over fining fears.

Nottingham City Council said it needs to enforce the pedestrianised area fairly and evenly and volunteers can apply for permits to allow them to load and unload.

However, volunteers for the three charities, Guru Nanak's Mission Nottingham, Food For All Nottingham and Sewa Day Nottingham, said only being able to park to load and unload makes it more difficult to serve between 50 and 70 people in Castle Gate every Monday and Thursday evening.

They said they have already received warning letters ahead of fines being introduced by the council.

As a result, the volunteers said they have now started parking outside the clear zone, which limits them to serving only the food they can carry.

Sewa Day and Food For All have decided to stay where they are operating, and hope for a change from the council, but Guru Nanak's Mission has moved to the Norton Street Gurdwara, outside the city centre, to avoid the threat of volunteers being fined.

Jean Panagamuwa, 45, chairman of Guru Nanak's Mission, said: "It's fundamentally changed how we operate because we are no longer allowed to drive down to drop food off and park.

"We had an informal agreement with the council that we could have four cars parked there each service, to give out the food. But we just don't have evidence of that anymore because it was agreed years ago.

"Volunteers are upset and quite emotional. We started talking to the council at the beginning of the year. They advised applying for permits.

"We started the application in March and that is still ongoing, which is a bit disappointing, and we haven't really got anywhere with that and that's had a huge impact.

"We don't know what [the council] want, there doesn't seem to be a way to talk to someone and the communication by email is quite delayed."

Naresh Patel, 55, a volunteer for Food For All, which operates in Castle Gate on a Tuesday, said: "Our clientele is not just homeless people, it's just basically anyone who wants a meal.

"We were all trying to apply for [parking] permits, but the permits just aren't coming through to us."

The Nottingham Clear Zone includes Lister Gate and part of Castle Gate and was introduced in 1993, but has since expanded.

It prevents vehicles accessing the area, except for loading and unloading, from 16:30 to 10:00.

The council said it introduced the ANPR camera at the direct request of Nottinghamshire Police due to the high volume of unauthorised vehicles and related incidents in the area, and to improve pedestrian safety.

A Nottingham City Council spokesperson said: "The Automatic Number Plate Recognition unit is still in the first six months of issuing warning notices for first-time offences.

"After six months, all unauthorised vehicles utilising this route will be issued a Penalty Charge Notice.

"This is not a new policy, it goes back years. It's completely standard across the country in urban areas and city centres, so not unique to Nottingham, and does enable a balance between supporting businesses to operate and pedestrian safety.

"All charities operating within the city centre are eligible to apply for a dispensation, which is subject to a standard charge.

"To ensure fairness and equality, there are no exemptions from this requirement, and all charitable organisations follow the same process. All charities that have been in touch have had this explained to them.

"We have received just three applications from charities in this area for permits to park. One has been approved and issued, while the other two are awaiting further detail from the applicants to help us process."

Listen to BBC Radio Nottingham on Sounds and follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.