Catering firm that came to the rescue of stranded cruise passengers has been hit with parking penalties

Ice Catering, owned by Tony Buckley, has the contract for hospitality at Greenock Town Hall but the company has been hit with a series of parking tickets while operating there.

Independent Councillor Ronnie Ahlfeld says the firm is being hampered from doing its jobs at weddings and other functions without access to parking.

He put forward a motion to exempt the company from penalties, but this was shot down.

An amended motion from fellow independent Cllr Lynne Quinn which would have allowed any contractor carrying out work at the town hall to be exempted was also rejected at the full council meeting.

Ice Catering, who have declined to comment on the matter, first raised the issue eight months ago with Cllr Ahlfeld.

But they now face a further wait after councillors voted in favour of a Labour motion to ask for a report to go to the local authority's environment and regeneration committee to look at other options.

Councillor Ahlfeld: "While carrying out their work in Greenock Town Hall, the company has regularly received parking tickets since all parking has been banned in Cathcart Square.

"This has negatively affected the company's ability to carry out their business as timely and efficiently as they wish.

"The owners of the company are my constituents and this situation was brought to my attention around eight months ago.

"When I protested that the company were being treated unfairly when carrying out their work in the Town Hall, I was advised that a number of options were being considered and requested that I give it some time for these options to be assessed.

"Three months later, nothing was forthcoming and parking tickets were still being issued."

Mr Ahlfeld then wrote to officials requesting that the firm be 'given immunity from being issued with parking violation tickets while engaged in their commissioned work at Greenock Town Hall' or be given a fob for access to the tunnel carriageway at the venue.

This request was also denied.

Councillor Ahlfeld said: "Once again we were asked to withdraw our proposal while options were being considered.

"After eight months and continuing parking problems we consider this nonsensical."

Councillor Ahlfeld pointed out that exceptions were made when hospitality was provided to stranded cruise passengers, with the tunnel opened to prevent further parking tickets being issued.

He said: "We are all aware of the outstanding efforts of ICE Catering recently in providing food and drink for the stranded cruise passengers, as highlighted in the Greenock Telegraph."

Councillor Ahlfeld says he is disappointed that the ongoing problem hasn't been resolved.

He said: "We cannot understand why there is perceived opposition to allowing contractors to carry out their duties from the tunnel."