A RESTAURANT in Reading has had three parking tickets cancelled, after being fined by traffic wardens when introducing deliveries. 

This article was updated at 17.20 on March 24 to reflect new information.

Valpy Street Bar & Bistro is one of the many restaurants and pubs that have begun delivering food and drink since social distancing was introduced.

The social distancing measures are intended to stop the spread of the coronavirus, and have seen businesses shut. But many, including Valpy Street, have started a takeaway and delivery service to help keep their businesses going.

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But Andrew Norman, one of the owners of the bistro, said they initially had problems delivering food. Traffic wardens gave them three separate tickets, each for £25, for parking delivery cars outside.

Mr Norman said: “We stopped doing deliveries because of this. We would have to have a car outside to be able to deliver.”

Valpy Street was told last week they couldn’t apply for an emergency permit to park outside their building, Mr Norman said, because the Civic Offices at Reading Borough Council have been closed.

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Mr Norman said the council has since promised to cancel all three parking tickets, and provide an emergency permit. He added that Valpy Street will now start delivering food again. 

A council spokeswoman said: "We are glad we could resolve this parking issue and support the restaurant business at Valpy Street to continue with their delivery service.

"One of our key priorities at this difficult time is to support Reading's local economy, including support for local businesses.

"We are, for example, increasing the time limit on temporary permits from eight weeks to 16 weeks to help."

The bistro is launching its new takeaway menu today (March 24).