A man said he was determined not to pay a fine issued after his car's shadow fell into a disabled parking spot.
Matthew Cole received the £65 fine after he parked his vehicle outside Blackheath Post Office in Lewisham in March. The self-employed gardener, said he was "determined" not to pay the fine as he refutes claims he parked illegally.
Lewisham Council sent photos of his silver Ford estate car parked in an unmarked bay next to a signposted disabled spot - but they appear to show only the shadow of his vehicle within the disabled bay.
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After receiving the penalty charge notice, Matthew appealed the fine saying there was no disabled sign next to where he parked. He was then shocked to hear the council had rejected his appeal and continued to claim he had parked illegally. The council said the spot was reserved solely for disabled badge owners.
"It’s absurd," Matthew told MyLondon. "There’s no signage where I parked and the photos they sent me only show the shadow of my car in the disabled spot.
"I was taking my daughter to a football match on the heath and had parked there before without problem. Having not got a ticket at the other times, I personally don’t think I should have got a ticket this time.
"It’s completely wrong. They’re enforcing something that’s not there. I think £65 is not a lot to many people today, but the principle is wrong. If you don’t pay the fine in a certain time it doubles to £130 which is a lot."
Matthew said he remains determined not to pay the fine and has since lodged a second complaint against it. He continued: "They sent me an email to dispute it and I disputed it, but they seemed to just ignore what I said and said it was issued correctly. They’re so hard to get hold of. I think it’s done to force you to pay.
"I’ve parked in that same spot at least three other times for five to eight hours each time and had no problem. I don’t see why it was a problem this time."
A Lewisham Council spokesperson said: "We issued a penalty charge notice to Mr Cole on March 26 for parking in a disabled bay, which was marked with a disabled badge holders only sign. Mr Cole’s initial challenge of this PCN was rejected as he didn’t give a reason for challenging it.
"He has since outlined reasons for challenging the fine, which we are looking into in line with legal processes. We will be letting Mr Cole know the outcome in due course."
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