Multiple vehicles were given tickets (Image: SWNS)
being used for a film starring were issued parking tickets – after the council reportedly refused them permits.
The vehicles were in a suburb of Handbridge in for the movie ‘Anenome’, co-written by the triple Oscar-winner and his son Ronan. But a road-closure application from the film’s crew is understood to have been previously rejected by Chester West and Chester Council.
Locals claim that when the cars appeared for filming, the council sent traffic wardens in to issue tickets. They said to have seen the peculiar-looking vehicles, which were , being handed fines.
Graham, a local resident who runs the Handbridge Life Facebook page, took photos. He says he was told by a member of the production crew that parking permits were also sought but denied by the council.
It’s claimed that the council’s were purposely sent down to the film set with instructions to “ticket every vehicle”. This came after the council discovered filming was going ahead without the relevant permits.
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Residents claim the council refused to issue parking permits (Image: SWNS)
“Most of the filming today took place within the Old Boys Club building with shots out through windows to the collection of 80’s cars parked up on Overleigh Road,” Graham said. “Later, extras were filmed walking to and from outside.”
“A member of the production team told [me that] several weeks ago permission to close the road was sought from Cheshire West & Chester council, but was denied.
“Permits were also sought for parking in the bays but were also denied. But in an alleged fit of pique on hearing that filming was happening today without the relevant permits, they sent their Traffic Warden down with the express instruction to ticket every vehicle.
“Unlike most cities in the country Chester doesn’t have a dedicated officer to liaise with film production companies and is losing out on revenue as a consequence I was told.
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The vintage vehicles are from the 1980s (Image: SWNS)
“Street signs were removed so as not to be in shot as well as period bus stop timetables put in place. Even 1986 paper licence disks were put in car windows.
“The Handbridge Pub was used as the base for outside caterers to provide lunch [and] tech vehicles were parked up in Clubbies car park. The warden was specifically sent by his managers to get there and ticket as many vehicles as possible and so yes he was very aware what he was ticketing.
”The owners and drivers of the vintage cars were a little agitated as they were concerned about getting the penalty tickets and whether they’d be paid by the production company. They got verbal assurance that they would be paid. Each ticket is £35 if paid within 14 days, after that they double.
”I spoke to one of the production crew who told me that permission had been sought for a road closure and had been refused by Cheshire West and Chester council. After that they had applied for bay parking permits but these were also refused, so they had to just accept getting perhaps as many as ten tickets which would cost less – about £350 than the £2000 to £3000 cost of road closure.”
Speaking on Facebook, councillor Matt Carter said: “I enquired about this last night with the council, to find out more, the council had not been approached for permission. had not approved this and have had a meeting with the filming company to advise what permission were required which have not been requested. ‘They had also applied for a which had been refused. In addition, the Parking Services Manager has recently provided the following information for a similar enquiry.
A road closure application was also refused (Image: SWNS)
”The vehicles granted permission are providing technical support for a feature film being filmed in Chester. Cheshire West is a film friendly borough and supports where possible all filming in partnership with the national film office.
”Careful consideration is always given to each request and in this case, not all of the production requests could be permitted as they would have put too much pressure on the busy roads. The production company is responsible for letting residents know what they are doing and ensure a minimum of disruption, wider publicity doesn’t take place to allow the production to reduce traffic and sightseers.
”In the majority of cases notifications are shared with Highways, Events, CCTV, Cheshire Police and Cllr Leader.”
The local council told Express.co.uk in a statement: “A few weeks before any filming took place, there was an onsite meeting with the Council’s Highways and Events Team plus Cheshire Police to discuss the filming requirements and what could be permitted.
“The original application was for a full closure of Eaton Road and Overleigh Road for 12 hours, which was refused due to the impact that would have made. At the site meeting the production was asked to consider alternate dates that didn’t conflict with existing road works. There was no application made to suspend parking ahead of filming, or any application to allow technical vehicles extended parking. The Council issued penalty notices on the vehicles parked without permission.
“Cheshire West and Chester is a film friendly borough attracting and welcoming many productions throughout the year. Accommodating large productions is not easy, and on occasions entire car parks have been booked for technical vehicles. We have welcomed over 30 crews this year and with advanced notice and clear requests we can continue to welcome productions.”
However, one local commented: “What a petty council we have”. Another said: “The same council that created a bus lane on Liverpool Road that has never been used exclusively as a bus lane.
”Maybe need to come from under their comfy desks once in a while. Look forward to the film.”
Express.co.uk has approached Focus Features and Plan B for comment.