I’m being ‘picked on’ by the council over a £35 parking fine – there weren’t any signs & I refuse to back down
A PENSIONER has claimed he is being "picked on" by his local council over a £35 parking fine, despite there being no signs where he stopped.
Stanley Merran, who is a blue badge holder, insisted that he is a "law-abiding citizen" and that officials have made a mistake.
Mr Merran, from Bournemouth, Dorset, received the penalty for allegedly stopping in a loading bay outside the local library.
However, he claims that the fine was the result of a "zealous" warden and that there were no markings or signs indicating that he was in a loading area.
The council has said it cannot comment on individual cases.
Photos of his Ford Fiesta parked on the road appear to show only a set of double yellow lines - which his blue badge allows him to disregard.
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The 82-year-old told the Bournemouth Echo: "I looked for the yellow marker lines on the pavement to suggest it was a loading area, but there is nothing.
"I also looked for any other signs to suggest this, and I couldn’t see any.
"If there are signs up, I would not have parked there; I am a law-abiding citizen who always follows the laws and regulations.
"This is purely some councillors and the council wanting to make more money...they are picking on people."
He also alleged that the council target the area as they "know" that local park there regularly, dubbing it a "disgrace".
The irate motorist added: "When you see all the problems with the council, the crime, the litter everywhere, I find it staggering that this is what they focus on."
A spokesperson for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council said: "We are unable to comment on specific Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) information.
"If a vehicle owner wishes to challenge a Penalty Charge Notice, they can do so by email or post.
"Our team will then review the challenge and a decision will be made on whether the PCN will need to be paid.
"A reply will then be sent to the vehicle owner directly."
It comes after a homeowner in Wales told how his local council forced him to shell out thousands to redo a dropped kerb twice - all while failing to fix potholes in the same street.
