Warden must be 'thick as a plank'

11:50am Monday 1st October 2001

There are four possible explanations for Harry Cole's encounter with his truculent traffic warden:

l The warden must have been as thick as a plank with an “always obey the last order” mentality, even if it defies common sense

l Issuing a late ticket is the only way he can convince the governor he is still at work and has not skived off early

l He needed one or two more to reach his target for the day

l He is on commission.

Perhaps our local Gestapo, otherwise known as Sureway, can enlighten us, or if they do not cover Southwark, perhaps that council will oblige to provide us with an answer..

Do you realise, Harry, that if you were still in the 'force' you would be under instruction to turn a blind eye to the possession of small quantities of illegal substances? Yet a traffic warden cannot overlook a harmless misjudgment.

Anyway, how do you know his watch was right?

It could have been two minutes slow.

The authorities wonder why motorists lose their rag when faced with such 'bone headed' bureaucracy.

Harry's misfortune is to be a mild-mannered pensioner.

If it had been the usual denizen of that area, our warden would have had a practical demonstration of precisely where to put his ticket.

A J Burnett

Canberra Road

Bexleyheath