LIONS Club members who have been marshalling Looe’s Covid-19 vaccination clinic said they were bemused when a parking attendant arrived to issue tickets.

The Lions estimate that they have ushered some five or six thousand people in and out of the clinic at the Millpool since the start of the year. The system adopted, which they say they understood was agreed with Cornwall Council, has involved guiding arrivals to park in the area closest to the clinic, including using the coach parking bays, which have been empty throughout because of the coronavirus restrictions.

“It’s been working like a dream,” said volunteer Neil Hipkiss.

“By parking in the coach bays, it means that the rest of the car park is left free for other visitors, and more importantly, it means everyone visiting the clinic is there in one place, so that we can monitor people for any adverse reaction.

“One guy felt ill and within a minute the doctor was there with him. On each of the days I have helped out, we have had several people who have had a bad reaction, even one who required an ambulance.”

After the arrival of a traffic enforcement officer on Monday, when 800 people were due to visit the clinic, the Lions had to tell drivers to use any free space over the rest of the large Millpool car park.

A knock-on effect, Neil said, was that the Lions had been instructed by the medical staff to tell carers who may not have been vaccinated that they could come in and take up spare jabs that were available on the day – but with people being dispersed, that was no longer possible.

Another clinic today is set to receive around 500 people.

“We couldn’t understand why the attendant was even here,” Neil added.

“The parking is free at the moment anyway.”

Lion Andy French said after trying to resolve the situation via Looe’s Cornwall Councillors, the car park management “were still insistent that anyone parking here (in the coach bays) would get a ticket”.

“There’s a degree of pragmatism and discretion that needs to come into this,” he said.

“We thought it was a bit ridiculous.”

The Cornish Times contacted Cornwall Council for a comment but had not received a reply at the time of going to press.