Hammering the disabled

On learning of this family's experience when parking in a designated disabled parking area in the centre of Crewe, I felt that other people should be made aware of the possible pitfalls when parking legally in a disabled area.

My next door neighbours are elderly- dare I say, over 80 – lead a quiet life and offend no one. They are, quite simply, a really lovely couple.

The other day, the couple were taken from home in Audlem into Crewe by their daughter in her car as neither of them are now able to drive. They parked in the centre of Crewe and unloaded a wheelchair and other walking aids. They placed the Disabled Driver's document in the windscreen on top of the dashboard and went about their shopping.

Imagine their horror when, returning to the car, they found a parking fine on the windscreen. Why you might ask? Well, simply it was because the Disabled Driver's document was facing the wrong way, but was perfectly readable.

The fine was £70.00. No mistake, a full seventy pounds.

The daughter went to Delamere House to find out what was going on and what law had been broken. Wrong office, she was told, and she was directed to the Municipal Buildings.

On explaining what had happened, she was informed that a photo copy of the Disabled Driver's badge was required together with a copy of the offending parking ticket. Fortunately, she was able to comply with the instructions and the matter was dropped and the fine withdrawn.

However, as you can imagine, it might be extremely stressful for a disabled person having to comply with the demands of Cheshire East. Many could quite possibly be unable to comply. Then it would be pay time!

What overpaid non-job dreamt up such a farce? Why are such people not named? Maybe because it would cause them stress in the workplace! But none of them think of the stress they cause the public.

If Cheshire East council are so short of money that they slap a £70 fine on a car with a disabled badge, just because it wasn't displayed in exactly the right way, our local authority must be in a bad way financially!

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