NOLE Sourdough Pizza in Salisbury has been left ‘frustrated’ by Wiltshire Council after its challenge to a parking ticket was rejected. 

Every morning, Nole on the Square, which is the latest addition to the family business, has fresh dough delivered to its restaurant on Butcher Row and unload it from the allocated bay across the square. 

The restriction is that vehicles in this bay must be unloading or loading, and if there is no evidence of this after five minutes a parking ticket is given. 

On November 4 a parking officer observed the Nole Pizza van between 3.30pm and 3.37pm and saw ‘no activity that would allow an exception to the restriction’.  

A ticket was issued which Nole challenged, and this challenge was rejected on November 11. 

The business has until November 27 to pay the fine of £35, but in protest of these rules Nole Pizza posted on its Facebook it does not intend to pay.

Nole's owner Ethan Davids, 27, said: “According to Wiltshire Council’s parking rules its physically impossible for us to deliver food or collect rubbish without getting a parking ticket because the closest parking bay to our restaurant is across the market square. 

“Parking, unloading, taking food to the fridge and taking rubbish back out takes longer than the five-minute period of time which is supposedly allocated for loading.

“It seems it’s physically impossible for us to operate our business without getting a ticket everyday.”

Ethan comments the only way the business can avoid getting tickets is by having two people deliver and collect, so one person can stay by the car which he notes is not economically viable.

Salisbury Journal: Nole on the Square prepares pizzas. Nole on the Square prepares pizzas.

Nole Pizza opened in Market Square in November last year, celebrating their one year anniversary on the 19th, Ethan noting their excitement to open in the centre of this ‘beautiful’ city. 

What Ethan loves most about their location and their job is the people who visit, but he has found it difficult ‘navigating’ the different groups that operate. 

Ethan said: "It's a shame because organisations like Salisbury BID who work very hard to promote a good business environment in the city centre.

"At the same time, sometimes it feels like you're working against the wind trying to do basic things without breaking some sort of silly rule here or there."

This is not the first issue it's had with Wiltshire Council, Ethan notes, mentioning that the reason it also has its waste collected every day is that the only spot it is allowed a bin is outside the store window which ‘looks horrible’. 

After posting the rejected appeal letter on Facebook with their concerns, their inbox was flooded with support from locals and other business owners.

Ethan said: "It's really difficult for businesses at the moment, with our costs increasing day by day. 

"Independent businesses in Salisbury are great for the city, just look at the market square in summer. 

"But I am told we're already paying more for our outside seating than similar spaces in cities like Bath and Winchester."

"A little lenience in favour of independents when it comes to loading and unloading would go a long way!"

Wiltshire Council's Cabinet Member for Transport, Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, said: “After being made aware of this situation, I met with employees from Nole to discuss their concerns.

"Given the limited number of loading bays in the city centre and the large number of businesses wanting to use them, it’s important that vehicles do not overstay when loading and unloading is not happening.

"However, I have asked enforcement officers to be as flexible as possible where appropriate to take account of the specific situations of some businesses and the time it may take to unload items to their premises.”

In terms of the rules surrounding unloading, Cllr McClelland clarified: "When a Civil Enforcement Officer sees a vehicle in a loading bay, they establish whether there is evidence of loading and unloading.

"There is no time restriction on a loading bay unless specified on adjacent signage, but loading needs to be a continuous process. Typically, after a five-minute period of observation, a Penalty Charge Notice can be issued if appropriate.

“If someone receives a Penalty Charge Notice and feels it was issued incorrectly, they can challenge this and provide any appropriate evidence to support the appeal.

"We have a robust and transparent appeals process that is set out in legislation, and a case can be heard by an independent adjudicator.”

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