06-02-2014

A property maintenance businessman’s successful scheme aimed at beating over-zealous traffic wardens in the central London area is being offered to other businesses.

Will Davies’ unique scheme involves paying unemployed youngsters to 'van sit' vehicles and prevent them getting parking tickets. The young people - who must have clean driving licences - get paid £8 an hour to stay with his tradesmen's vans when they arrive at an address for a job, often carrying heavy tool bags and kit.When a parking warden arrives the sitter drives around the block or parks nearby to avoid a fine.

He said until he introduced the van-sitter scheme his parking fine bill could be as much as £1,500 a week.

Our engineers are suffering tens of thousands of pounds at the hands of wardens and the van sitters are helping them avoid fines.

He added: 'They are trying to keep London working by fixing homes and offices but some months their entire earnings will be wiped out by fines and the situation is just getting worse and worse - less parking available and more fines being handed out.

'Our engineers are suffering tens of thousands of pounds at the hands of wardens and the van sitters are helping them avoid fines... It's legal and we are keeping traffic moving'.

The company operates its own fleet of 115 vehicles in London used by plumbers, electricians, roofers, decorators and locksmiths to get to routine and emergency jobs all over the capital.