image source, Paul Cooper
Paul Cooper received five penalty notices in one week, totaling £650
A disabled bay was painted around a parked car and £650 in Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were issued, the vehicle’s owner has alleged.
Paul Cooper, 42, from Merton, south-west London, made the discovery after returning to what he said had been a standard resident bay near his home.
The parking lot was expanded to include his car in his absence, Cooper said.
Merton Council said it “cannot be held responsible for failing to read signs warning residents of the work”.
Cooper is in dispute with Merton Parking Services after being issued five PCNs for parking in a disabled bay without displaying a blue badge.
He said he had parked his car near his home on September 18, at which time there was a disabled bay directly behind the vehicle.
When he returned to his car on October 6, Mr. Cooper said the bay had widened and extensive damage had been done to his vehicle.
image source, Paul Cooper
Mr. Cooper blames the council for the damage to the rear of his vehicle
Cooper said the council acknowledged work was done to widen the bay on September 26, but told him it was impossible to mark a bay under a car as the equipment used for hot thermoplastic painting could not pass under a vehicle.
He told the BBC that the council’s claim was “total nonsense” as photographs showed no machine had been used and “someone bent under the car and painted in new lines”. .
“The council says the paint on the old lines couldn’t be removed without damaging my vehicle, and the back of my vehicle is completely ruined.”
He also said neighbors had confirmed the disabled bay was widened while his car was parked.
“The resident who uses the disabled parking stated in no uncertain terms that my car was parked before the bay was widened as she and her son argued at the time about how unfair it was with the owner of the vehicle, which was me.”
image source, Paul Cooper
Mr Cooper says the bay widened while his car was properly parked
Merton Council said: “We have fully investigated Mr Cooper’s claim that a disabled parking space was extended under his car while it was parked in a non-disabled bay, and subsequent allegations that the his car was damaged in the process of painting new lines.
“Mr Cooper left his car parked in the same spot, on a road parallel to his house, for several weeks without visiting or updating himself on the work to be carried out. Merton Council is not responsible not to read the signs, notifying neighbors of the work, and attempts were made to contact him during the weeks his car was parked.
“Despite Mr Cooper’s admitted knowledge and understanding of the NCP appeal process, he made the decision to pay the fines issued, which is a legal admission that the offenses occurred.
“However, at our discretion, we have decided to refund all but the initial PCN.”
