A WORCESTER city council officer has vowed to appeal against a conviction for parking outside his Arboretum home while he changed one of his children's nappies.

Julian Pugh, whose neighbourhood has been plagued by parking problems for years, branded Worcester magistrates' decision "pathetic" during yesterday's trial.

Traffic warden Linda Dovey booked the senior licensing officer, on September 27 last year, after parking outside his Barry Street home while he went in to collect his two children.

But his decision to spend 20 minutes changing a nappy ended up costing him £150 after he was found guilty yesterday of waiting in a restricted zone.

Arboretum Residents' Group member Mike Heath, who has been fined three times for parking outside his Northfield Street home, said it highlighted the problem residents had been having for years.

Problem

"I thought the point of magistrates were not just to enforce the law but to understand the problem," said the 35-year-old teacher.

"My wife, who is heavily pregnant, leaves a note inside her car window if she can't find a space, asking attendants to knock on the door.

"But they are really rude and basically say it isn't their problem."

In Worcester Magistrates Court yesterday, Mr Pugh argued the bylaw, which prohibits parking between 8.30am and 5.30pm from Monday to Saturday, gave leeway to loading and unloading.

But although magistrates had "sympathy" with the 38-year-old, they said his wife could have changed the child if necessary and 20 minutes was too long.

For years, parking problems prompting numerous heated discussions with the city council has plagued Arboretum residents.