A couple have been hit with a £100 fine for pulling over their car outside Bristol Airport, during which time one of them was suffering a panic attack. Annie Amos, 68, says she was forced to pull over when she experienced heart palpitations waiting for her husband Steve, 65, to disembark his plane, which was delayed due to Storm Franklin.
Steve says his wife Annie paid for parking at two different zones at Bristol Airport on February 20, when he was held on his plane from Newcastle to Bristol due to adverse weather conditions. Steve, who has cancer and was experiencing severe reactions to radiotherapy, texted his wife to say he had been moved to the front of the plane to be near the toilet.
Upon receiving the text message, Annie, who suffers from heart problems, said she was forced to pull over her car as she was experiencing a panic attack. Her car was picked up by cameras and she was subsequently fined for pulling over in a no stopping zone.
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Steve and Annie, from South Cheriton in Somerset, have since tried to appeal the fine from VCS (Vehicle Control Services Ltd), the company in charge of parking enforcement at the airport. Steve claims he didn't hear back from VCS when he asked if they could explain the appeals process, and also claims he was told by the Independent Appeals Service (IAS) that they won't take into account extenuating circumstances.
Bristol Airport said that as road safety was compromised they are "unable to assist further" with Steve and Annie's appeal.
Steve says he was told the couple could either pay the £100 fine or go down the legal route. Steve says taking the company to court is "not an option" as he and his wife are pensioners and "not in the best of health."
He told BristolLive: "My flight was delayed as we had to abort my landing at the height of the storm and it was deemed not safe to disembark from the plane when it landed. My wife had parked in two separate parking zones and paid while awaiting my arrival.
"She was heading back to another parking zone when she received a text from me advising we had aborted and were just landing. I am suffering from side effects of radiotherapy following chemo for cancer and my wife is obviously extremely concerned for my wellbeing.
"She had a panic attack and pulled over to compose herself as she was not fit to drive. She stopped for 45 seconds to do this.
"This was in a no stopping zone, she did not see the signs as it was the height of Storm Franklin with severe winds and rain and she was panicking basically.
"We appealed based on this, this has now been rejected, at no time have the Independent Appeals Service (IAS) or VCS acknowledged my wife’s panic attack, instead they repeat the big signs mantra stating no parking time and time again."
A spokesperson for Bristol Airport told BristolLive: “VCS has fully investigated the incident and reviewed the CCTV footage. Unfortunately, the customer stopped on double red lines and picked up another customer, causing road safety issues for other road users, customers and colleagues. As road safety was compromised they are unable to assist further.”
The airport says facilities are available close to the terminal for vehicles picking up and dropping off passengers, and a free Waiting Zone offers parking for up to 60 minutes is available.
Steve and Annie aren't the first to be fined for pulling over outside the airport. Last month SomersetLive reporter Nancy Connolly was also hit with a £100 fine - £80 more than her actual flight - for pulling over in the no stopping zone.
Have you received a fine from Bristol Airport? Tell us your story by emailing: beth.cruse@reachplc.com
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