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BBC radio presenter sacked for criticising council fine…on facebook

I understand that the BBC has to be impartial, but this story is taking it far too far:

Gareth_evans Gareth Evans was sacked after allegedly threatening to criticise his local council on air over a minor parking ticket row involving his heavily pregnant wife.

Evans, 39, a popular DJ at BBC Radio Sheffield, detailed the dispute on Facebook, revealing how his wife Joanna was given a £25 ticket for parking badly in an 'empty' town centre car park during a shopping trip.

When parking her Land Rover, she slightly straddled another bay to ensure she had sufficient room to get out. She returned later to find a fixed penalty notice on her windscreen.

Mr Evans wrote on Facebook about his family's 'war' with the council and their failed attempt to have the fine overturned.

But a senior official at Bassetlaw Council in Nottinghamshire was so concerned about comments that he wrote to BBC management.

It is hard to know who has acted more irresponsibly in this case: Bassetlaw Council for issuing a ridiculous fine to a pregnant woman, or the BBC in Sheffield for sacking someone for such a minor and inoffensive comment.

What is certain, is that the person who has been made to suffer most – Gareth Evans – doesn’t deserve this treatment whatsoever.

It makes for a telling picture of Britain today: a council desperate to rake in money by fining people who are not breaking any law, and a state broadcaster too scared to defend its own staff.

By Dylan Sharpe

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Big Brother Watch Posted in Home
  • Ray

    “…she slightly straddled another bay to ensure she had sufficient room to get out….” So were the bays too small or can’t she drive (a landrover) properly?
    Also, note the contradiction, an “empty” town centre car park. I presume she straddled another bay because she thought the car park might be full when she returned…
    Oh dear, by all means bash the “enemies” (the BBC & council “jobsworths”), but this is a desperate example to use.
    I can just imagine your rant from another point of view, “I tried to do some shopping today, but the car park was full, & some f*cking c*nt in a landrover had taken up TWO spaces….”

  • zorro

    Sweet FA to do with the BBC or his terms of employment. He should take them to a tribunal….Whether he was right or wrong about the parking incident doesn’t matter. He is entitled to appeal it and talk about it. The tosser from Bassetlaw Council is a faceless, grey inadequate bureaucrat who can’t take criticism. Again whoever was ‘right’ in the matter really doesn’t matter. It has sweet FA to do with his job and is a civil dispute. The BBC should have politely talked the pen pusher to f*** off.

  • Chris

    The major problem with this fining of people who park over a line, is that it might not be their fault. Sometimes you find one or more other cars that have parked badly, and the only way you can get into the adjacent space is to park over a line. If the original vehicle moves, some clueless power crazed official may well assume it is all your fault. Allowing councils to make money from such minor issues was a bad idea from the start.

  • John

    He wasn’t sacked for criticising the council. He was sacked because he threatened to retaliate by bad-mouthing them on-air. It’s surely quite reasonable for the BBC not to want their employees to use their programmes to pursue personal issues in this way.
    http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news2/BBC-bosses-sack-DJ-in.6021703.jp

  • The Old Sapper

    Mr clever dick Evans had every opportunity to challenge the issue of this ticket in a proper manner- viz through the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. He may well have won!
    He has pushed all the wrong buttons in his efforts to discredit all involved. I am amazed that a man who supposedly has such intelligence has messed up a simple £25.00 parking fine to the point where he has lost his job. What a WALLY!! I can’t get my breath!!!!! It was not even him driving at the time. His wife must be fraught that he has now gone and lost his job particularly following the birth of their child. Does he know anything about post natal depression? The BBC don’t sack a peak time presenter for trivialities. He has messed up big time due to his belligerent attitude. Justice will prevail.
    Well done Gareth, you must be proud at your lack of professionalism!

  • Glyn Duckenfield

    I actually read the facebook thread before it was taken down and Mr Evans NEVER threatened to talk about the dispute on air. A couple of posters suggested he ought to use his position as a platform to show Bassetlaw council up but he did not make the statements or comment on them.
    A parking attendant had already told Evans that he would probably get the fine withdrawn since there was overhanging foliage which actually made it difficult to park right up to the edge of the bay. Also a photograph used as evidence by the council appeared to have been stretched making the distance over the line look greater than it was.
    Gareth Evans NEVER spoke about this on air – he discussed it on his PERSONAL Facebook page and did not indicate at any time that he intended to do so.
    The actions of the council official who wrote the letter is what really bothers me. Hands up all those who have received a parking ticket? Hands up all those who have challenged one? How would you feel if the council wrote to your employer out of spite in an effort to lose you your livelihood?
    Personally I think there was a more worrying breach of the law here…

  • The Old Sapper

    Glyn,
    You appear to be as sad as Mr Evans!
    Do l you really believe that the Council wrote to the BBC in the hope of getting him the sack!! You really are bitter and twisted. I know the writer of the council letter and he would think long and hard before contacting the BBC (and not in the hope of getting anyone the sack!). No one likes getting a ticket but you have to first consider if you are the wrongdoer by breaching the regulations and then, – whether you have a strong case with which to appeal. You wanted a democratic society. You got it.

  • Andy

    Gareth Evans is a good bloke. Known him for several years now and never known anyone have a bad word to say about him. All i can say is bad job bbc and council workers are wallys