The watchful eye of RBWM’s parking department has fallen upon vans used by Ray Street and Ray Park Lane residents, with the council threatening to revoke their permits over claimed rule-breaking.

But their owners say, after years of having to fork out hundreds of pounds for parking permits, the swoop on their vital vehicles is hypocritical and has left them fearing for their futures.

Martin ‘Taff’ Ehrenstrasser, 55, said he faced quitting his job or being forced to move out of his home of 20 years.

“The only way I can describe it is discrimination against tradespeople,” he said. “It’s not a lifestyle vehicle of choice; it’s a vehicle of necessity. I either have to quit my job or move.”

Martin’s Ford Transit is what keeps his job running. It stores all the tools and materials needed for his specialist bathroom fitting work for elderly and disabled people in and around Maidenhead.

Having twice been the victim of van theft—at the cost of thousands of pounds—he said leaving his van parked unattended in a foreign corner of Maidenhead would be enormously stressful.

That was even if alternative parking could be found. Gardener Phil Macdonald, 67, had similar fears.

“I think it’s disgraceful because if I can’t keep my vehicle safe near my house, then I would have to look at moving house,” he said.

Gary Beagley, 53, who runs Funky Doors, a door fitting company, is also worried about the safety of his van.