A Teignmouth trader claims he's being persecuted by town traffic wardens after collecting eight parking tickets within two months.

Colin Authers, who runs Smiles Restaurant on Den Road, said that Teignbridge Council can take him to court if they want because he's not going to pay.

But Teignbridge Council has denied it is treating Mr Authers unfairly.

Last Wednesday, Mr Authers' car was booked outside his restaurant, even though he says he had a valid ticket. Another time a traffic warden knelt on the tarmac to see if the wheel of his car was touching the yellow line.

'There were three tickets in the car, one valid, one which had run out and another one which was old and faded. The warden told me to take the old tickets out, otherwise he would book me.'

Mr Authers remonstrated that he was trying to run a business and was booked.

'Two elderly persons said he should be fired on the spot. I kept the names and addresses of the two people.

'I called the police and an officer said clearly that was a valid ticket and if it went to court he would say it was valid.'

A police spokesman confirmed that two officers had attended an incident but was unable to give further details.

Den Road has parking meters allowing one hour stay, with no return allowed within an hour. Mr Authers admits he has broken the rules but says he has little choice. The council-owned premises is attached to the Carlton Theatre. It has no parking or delivery space of its own.

'We park there whenever we can because we have to go out two or three times a day. It costs us on average £8 a day to park and it seems that every time we are a minute late, they slap a ticket on us.'

What makes the situation even more galling, he says, is that council workers have free parking on the seafront.

'Why am I being forced to pay these tickets when the council says it's one law for them and another law for us?

'The people who are suffering are Teignmouth townspeople. The council should be helping small businesses and small communities and not persecuting them.'

A council spokesman said that employees do not have free parking on the Upper Den Carriageway or anywhere else where parking restrictions and charges apply.  Some vehicles have permits for car parks, but these are still bought and paid for.  Where the confusion might be arising is that, in some resorts, council vehicles have access to land owned by the council, on which they may legally park.

'While we appreciate Mr Authers' situation, the council does have a legal obligation to enforce parking rules fairly across the board. These rules allow for customers to appeal against any tickets. These appeals are considered individually on their merits and may follow a set procedure all the way to an independent tribunal if a customer remains unsatisfied. 

'This ensures that everyone has a fair opportunity to make their case, and if there is an acceptable reason to cancel a ticket then we will do so.'