Croydon council continued its 'unfair' parking fines policy
CROYDON Council has admitted it was wrong to fine motorists for parking in part of the town centre – but continued to do so anyway.
Drivers were this week calling for enforcement to be suspended outside The Skylark pub on South End and questioned where else wardens were unfairly issuing tickets.
In September, parking bosses overturned Ken Lippett's fine after he appealed on the basis that the signs were contradictory and road markings did not meet legal standards.
Update: Croydon Council to cancel unfair South End parking fines
Local politician Mark Samuel, of South Croydon, who helped him plead his case, said: "To date, none of the signs or markings have been corrected.
"So, despite a precedent having been set by the council, in saying that this taxi rank is unenforceable, it apparently continues to hound motorists with illegally issued tickets."
Outside The Skylark a sign reading "no stopping 8am-3am" conflicts with a Transport for London sign saying the space is for two taxis between 7pm and 3am.
Parking campaigner Barrie Segal said parking authorities often issued fines even when parking signs were not valid.
"They do it on the basis that 90 per cent of people will pay up," he said.
A council spokesman said: "We’ve not issued any tickets there since October and orders have been raised to make the signs and lines clearer.
"Everyone has the right to appeal their ticket to the council and to an adjudicator."
A total 2,551 tickets were issued across the whole of South End between April 2010 and April 2011, bringing in £140,953 for the council.
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by Misterkipling
Friday, January 13 2012, 7:06PM
“stop worming out of it and pay the fine you earned by not being able to park in a space, I know you say someone else parked badly, but in that case park somewhere else
If your on yellow you get a fine, thats the only technicality we need.
Your lucky nobody smashed one of your windows at the disgust of how you parked”
by tbabygib
Friday, January 13 2012, 4:56PM
“Mark. Leave it out man.
Thickness of lines? Who in their right mind is going to carry a ruler, just to make sure of the thickness.
Off your rocker is what you are.”
by nicecityboy
Friday, January 13 2012, 3:06PM
“Mark Samuel, that is true politician talk. I take my hat off to you sir !
Can you imagine how horrific the road sides would look with 200mm - 300mm sized yellow lines, plus the sheer wasted paint?
One would need to be seriously visually impaired to not see a thick yellow line that was even only like 100mm thick, do you not agree MrSqueaker? This seems a nonsense excuse still, I hope these people have to pay their fines for their blatant parking offences.”
by MrSqueaker
Friday, January 13 2012, 2:52PM
“As a rule, I think that all people with good eyesight should be encouraged to get out more and use it.
In this way when travelling by licensed hackney carriages or "black cabs" and buses in Croydon, that they could observe such a prescribed 200 - 300 mm yellow band at bays, stops and stands.
The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002, Diagram 1025.1 refers.”
by nicecityboy
Friday, January 13 2012, 2:22PM
“MrSqueaker - You must be either Mark Samuel or Ken Lippett - Welcome.
I dont think I have ever seen a "broad yellow band" between 200mm and 300mm. This seems like pure nonsense.
The things people will do or say to try to worm their way out of paying these fines is embarrassing.”
by MrSqueaker
Friday, January 13 2012, 2:03PM
“The truth is that Croydon council accepted Ken's appeal for the following valid reasons:
(1) A complete lack of prescribed signs indicating CCTV enforcement, on South End, northbound between Southbridge Road and the taxi bay.
(2) Conflicting times on the two signs on the pole, relevant to the taxi bay.
(3) These signs are too high and a motorist in a car can only read them by stopping and getting out.
(4) The photographs taken by the Croydon Guardian show a ruler being used to measure the required "broad yellow band", H.M. Government's words and not mine. This is supposed to be between 200 and 300 mm. In fact it barely measures 100 mm.
(5) The prescribed word to be used on the carriageway in this case is "TAXIS and not "TAXI".
(6) The other signs either side of the bay are confusing and contradictory. That is to say in regard to the actual times of the prohibition of no waiting, no loading and parking.
Incidentally, the council has confirmed that no PCN has been issued here "since October", but as yet has not paid back any fines issued since 11 August 2011.
Perhaps it is more of a concern that councillor Phil Thomas, the cabinet member responsible for environment and highways, is reported as saying on 12 November 2010, "revenue (from parking tickets) is also ploughed back into the council's highways budget to improve roads"
What about all the bits that go with them then, the yellow lines and signs?
Still not corrected!”
by msbloggs
Thursday, January 12 2012, 11:30AM
“Oh deary me, dont you car drivers have a lot of problems.. I dont, apart from idiot drivers who cant obey by the rules, and make it differcult for us who use our legs lol”
by Misterkipling
Thursday, January 12 2012, 1:42AM
“You need a Land Rover, when I need to park and someone is inconsiderate and takes up part of my space i push them back until they are parked properly
Take note people of Croydon, and Sainsburys in Selsdon too, if you park in the middle of two spaces then you might come back and find your car pushed into the trolley park”
by Misterkipling
Thursday, January 12 2012, 1:39AM
“if there are no yellow lines then whats being measured in the photo?
Also if you overhang then you didn't succeed in squeezing in”
by tbabygib
Wednesday, January 11 2012, 4:29PM
“Meaty. There was no yellow lines it was a parking space. But the ignorant driver behind well over lapped.... So I just squeezed in...Its all. But am now back to the English way of thinking.
And I was just saying that parking wardens are not all bad.
Your Apology in writing please.”