A Parking Penalty for Piano?
A discarded piano left on double yellow lines in an Ipswich street sparked amusement and curiosity among residents after it appeared to have been issued a parking ticket. The abandoned instrument was spotted on Bedford Street near the junction with St George’s Street, with what seemed to be a penalty notice placed on it. However, upon closer inspection, the document inside the notice had been removed, suggesting it may have been a prank rather than an official fine.
A note was also left on the piano, apologizing for the delay in its removal. The message explained that the owner was new to the area and had struggled to find information on removal services over the weekend.
Local residents reacted with a mix of amusement and frustration. Justin Man, 18, who lives on the street, said he had noticed the piano sitting there for several days and found the situation humorous, especially the supposed parking ticket. Another resident, Lucy Botten, 32, commented that while the street was not particularly clean, she hoped the broken piano would be removed soon rather than left to deteriorate.
Ipswich Borough Council provides a bulky waste removal service, charging £28.25 for one item and £57.32 for collections of two to five items. They also encourage residents to donate usable items to charity.
By midday on Wednesday, the piano had been removed, though it remains unclear whether the council took it away or if the owner arranged for its disposal. The origins of the parking ticket also remain a mystery, leaving residents to speculate whether it was an official notice or simply a well-placed joke.
Source: ipswichstar.co.uk, image: Thomas Marks