Animal rescuer’s frustration after receiving parking fine while helping unwell swan

A swan rescuer has shared her frustrations after receiving a parking fine while carrying out a rescue.

Clare Hill parked in the Fisherman’s car park at Tilgate Park, in Crawley, on April 8 where she was attending to an unwell swan.

The 57-year-old is a keen swan rescuer, having rescued birds across Crawley and Horsham for over ten years.

She regularly visits Tilgate Park where she helps monitor the swans and birds on the lake and attends when there are any issues.

Ms Hill has rescued swans for over ten years (Image: Clare Hill)

Ms Hill paid to park for an hour, however due to the complex nature of the rescue she returned to her car 17 minutes after the ticket had expired and received a parking fine.

The fine demanded she paid £50 or £25 if she pays in the first 14 days.

She explained: “I’d paid for a ticket for an hour, but things took a nasty turn. I took about 20 minutes more than I thought and I got back to find a car parking ticket.

“I questioned it with the council, but they said everybody has to pay no exception.”

She told The Argus that she also carries out rescues in Horsham, where the council has allowed her to have free parking as a good-will gesture for her time and work.

Despite frustrations, Ms Hill decided to pay the fine to avoid further repercussions, but described the response from the council as “unimpressive”.

“I don’t get paid to do this. I come up after work; I’m here early hours of the morning. Some days I come down up to three times.

“I often contact the park about antisocial behaviour or if there’s loads of rubbish, to give them a heads up. I’m their ears around here and yet I get no thanks for it,” Ms Hill said.

Fisherman’s car park at Tilgate Park in Crawley (Image: Google Maps)

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She added: “I can’t understand that Tilgate Park are praising themselves for their 60 year anniversary and how wonderful they are. If they were that wonderful, they would employ someone to keep an eye on wild fowl.”

Ms Hill said past incidents have included attacks involving dogs off leads, as well as attending to the birds when they become unwell or injured.

On this occasion, the rescuer had been trying to help the park’s resident female swan, Princess, who had been taken ill.

She told The Argus that she spends approximately £20 a week from her own pocket on food for the swans.

Ms Hill explained how her love for the birds grew.

She said: “At my first incident a male swan had been attacked by a dog and through that I met John Potts from Swans and Friends Bird Rescue.

“I went out with him a lot. Sadly, he’s now died, but I promised I would look after Tilgate for him.”

Crawley Borough Council declined to comment.

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