Rocky Rowe, a former pub landlord who now works as a part-time trawlerman, said the welder needed to park in the area behind Ask in Foreshore Road so he would have easy access to his tools but the council civil enforcement officer would not listen and made him move on.

This had the knock-on effect of losing him half a day’s work and the fishing boat was prevented from sailing because the repair had not been carried out.

Mr Rowe said: “He couldn’t do the welding, so he had to stop. I think if you have a genuine case, such as a proper job to do, there should be some leeway. A man has been stopped from doing his work.”

He added the repairs had been important because fishing was one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. He said: “It is not as if he was out on a double yellow line. It doesn’t even say that you can’t park there.”

The news came after Scarborough Council admitted it now has 16 full-time civil enforcement officers patrolling in longer shifts – between 8am and 8pm every day.

The move came after responsibility for parking control passed to the council and fines now run from £50 to £70 – but this could be halved if the motorist pays up without questions.

Traders condemned the parking crackdown saying that it would drive away custom and visitors and it was suggested it was a cynical move to generate extra revenue.

At the time a council spokesman said the local authority was targeting areas where residents had reported problems such as builders’ vans on double yellow lines.

A council spokeswoman said the decision in this particular case had been taken because the area was an operational one and there could be no exceptions.

She said: “Due to the operational nature of this particular area it is strictly for permit holders only. It has to be treated as you would treat anywhere else like it.”