Parking fines 'outrageous'

3:16pm Monday 1st October 2001

TWO Beckenham mothers have hit out at “outrageous” council behaviour after a two-month-long parking ticket saga.

Melanie Norris, 30, and Sally Blencowe, 29, received parking tickets after paying twice at Beckenham Spa car park on the advice of the attendant.

Bromley Council has written to both women, stating they will have to represent themselves at an appeal for refusing to pay the fine.

The friends, who met at ante-natal classes, parked their cars and went swimming.

They decided later to go into town, so returned to their cars to pay more.

The attendant told them the half hour remaining on their tickets could still be used and they should pay for an extra hour, leaving both tickets.

Despite doing this, both women found parking fine notices on their return.

Miss Norris said: “This is just outrageous. I'm furious.

“I wouldn't mind paying a fine if I hadn't paid to park my car.

“But when I have made the effort to go back and taken the advice of a council worker, this is the last thing I expect.”

Parking operations manager Gerry Broomfield said: “An independent adjudicator will hear their appeals but if he finds against them they will have to pay.”

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