City walls artist quits Chester in Groves parking ticket row

-Credit: (Image: Mary Saifelden/Facebook)
-Credit: (Image: Mary Saifelden/Facebook)


An artist who has painted on The Groves in Chester for two decades says she is quitting the city over a parking fine. Mary Saifelden, 58, is among a group of painters who exhibit and sell paintings between the city walls and the River Dee, following a tradition that began in the 1960s.

But Mary, from Buckley, says she will not return to paint and exhibit on The Groves after receiving a parking ticket. Mary says she has been using the parking spaces outside Hickory’s — which have a 60-minute limit — for 20 years with limited issues.

Mary said she feels traffic wardens are “gunning” for the group after she received two parking tickets in a week. She said: “I was pleading with them, saying ‘Please, how can I make a living?”

On the second occasion, on August 18, Mary says she received the ticket while loading her car to leave. Mary, a full-time artist, said: “They [traffic wardens] saw me parked in a bay, and I ran around to move.

“In the rejection letter, they [the council] have said I was ‘advised’ to move my car as I was over the 60 minutes, but that’s not right, I just saw them coming and put my hand up to say I was going.

A painting of The Groves by Mary Saifelden -Credit:Mary Saifelden
A painting of The Groves by Mary Saifelden -Credit:Mary Saifelden

“I was on double yellows and quickly trying to get my paintings in the car as fast as I could. I had maybe five or six paintings to go, and they ran over with the ticket.”

Mary disputed the ticket, but her claim was rejected. She refutes the claim detailed in the rejection letter that she was parked on double yellow lines for ten minutes ‘with no sign of loading taking place’.

“Unbelievably, the photos [included in the rejection letter] show me loading my car,” she said. Cheshire West and Chester Council maintains Mary’s vehicle was observed for 10 minutes with no loading taking place.

Mary says she believes the artists have no other option but to park nearby. She said: “In the rejection letter, they’ve said I can park at Little Roodee car park.

“That’s a ten or fifteen minute walk away; who is going to drop their paintings off, drive around the city for about ten minutes, park up and walk back?

Eastgate Street by Mary Saifelden -Credit:Mary Saifelden
Eastgate Street by Mary Saifelden -Credit:Mary Saifelden

“That’s leaving your artwork for twenty minutes or half an hour. It’s hard enough to run to the toilet and back — sometimes I don’t drink enough just so I don’t have to go to the loo.”

Mary said the ticket feels like the city “rejecting” her and her art. She said: “I was gutted. It’s not the ticket, it’s what it meant. It’s like they were giving me my cards. It sounds big-headed, but many artists weren’t recognised in their lifetime.

“Everyone says it brightens up the area. A few have even said to me it’s like being in France. It gives the area a nice vibe.”

Mary said the number of artists have dwindled over the years, falling from a group of eight artists when she began to just three currently.

The group exhibits and sells on the Groves at weekends and bank holidays. Mary said: “It’s not the best job, it’s not the best money.

“We do it because we love it. Nine times out of ten I don’t sell anything, but I love to go down there and paint.”

A spokesperson for Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “The vehicle was seen parked on yellow lines where no waiting is permitted. The vehicle was observed for 10 minutes with no loading taking place and was therefore deemed to be left waiting. Details of how to challenge the penalty are detailed on the notice itself.”

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