Assistant principal of Croydon College rages over school run parking fine
By Aline Nassif
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OUTRAGED: Charles Quin with his son Symny outside All Saints Junior School Photo No: CCRPM090810A14
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OUTRAGED: Charles Quin with his son Symny outside All Saints Junior School
Photo: CCRPM090810A15 by Paul Martyniuk
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CAUGHT ON CAMERA: The image taken by the council's mobile CCTV unit showing Charles Quin dropping off his son
THE assistant principal of Croydon College has slammed the borough's traffic wardens for targeting "easy prey" during the morning school run.
Charles Quin received a £120 fine after he was filmed by a mobile CCTV unit dropping off his 12-year-old son Symny at All Saints Junior School, in Upper Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood.
The incensed dad-of-four insists he stopped on zigzag lines for only "a few seconds" to let his son out safely and does not feel the fine is merited.
After failing to persuade the council's parking services department to overturn the fine, Mr Quin, 52, of Ellery Road, Upper Norwood, has taken his fight to its chief executive.
He said: "This is not about money – it is a matter of principle. I'm speaking out on behalf of all the parents who are being picked on because they are easy prey. Croydon Council's parking-services department is running a money-making venture."
The street outside All Saints is a narrow two-way road with limited parking.
Mr Quin added that dozens of parents have been caught out outside the school, as he was at 8.52am on July 7.
He said: "I did not stop a second longer than necessary.
To secretly film or photograph someone when their car stops is deeply unfair.
"This makes me question whether the officer concerned acted in the interest of the children's safety, or whether they were more concerned about making money."
Mr Quin wrote to the council's parking department but was told there were no grounds to appeal the penalty. Last week, he sent a letter to chief executive Jon Rouse, appealing for him to investigate.
He said: "I hope the chief executive will be able to apply some common sense."
A council spokesman said the authority had received many calls from school staff, parents and residents requesting a "higher level of enforcement" at school opening and closing times.
He added: "The high volume of traffic causes congestion and, more importantly, is potentially hazardous to schoolchildren and parents.
"The Highway Code is specific when advising that drivers must keep school entrances clear of stationary vehicles, even if picking up or setting down children."
Do you think the council was right to issue a ticket? Let us know your views by e-mailing newsdesk@croydonadvertiser.co.uk.
46 Comments
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by dave dewson, traveller
Saturday, September 04 2010, 8:20PM
“I haven't really got a comment - I just wanted to make this into the longest thread ever.
please help..........................”
by ANNE, SELSDON
Monday, August 30 2010, 1:27PM
“Well I have escaped, I removed the glass top from the table and now have to walk around with the glass table top still attached, I have to walk through doors sideways now, Its very hard to dust the glass now I can tell you
People walking behind me keep throwing up too”
by Ms Smith, croydon
Sunday, August 29 2010, 12:17PM
“you must of lived a very sheltered life then..lol”
by Test Man, London
Sunday, August 29 2010, 12:40AM
“Sorry for the comment below, I ran out of ideas for any more names to call myself so I reused Anne from Selsdon again from the bottom, and I also ran out of feasible and logical arguments to back the Council's relentless traffic warden, so I had to resort to talking about being naked and mankinis. even though I know my efforts are futile”
by ANNE, SELSDON
Saturday, August 28 2010, 9:15PM
“Well I am sitting at home naked on a glass top coffee table, and I am beginning to worry I am stuck here through suction, but you don't hear me running to the papers”
by Test Man, Wales
Saturday, August 28 2010, 6:46PM
“Hello I am test man and I like pretending to be other people pretty much all people on this site I am a dirty liar and cannot handle the truth of the Council's ruthless money making schemes, thus trying to get other "peopl" to back up my points.”
by Jon Rouse $$, croydon council bo$$
Saturday, August 28 2010, 5:31PM
“I don't care about your Mercedes. I earn £189,999 a year. Trust me, i'm driving something alot better. If you ever run of to the newspapers ever again, i will make sure you learn your lesson, and believe me you won't like me when i'm angry.”
by Charles Quin, Norwood
Saturday, August 28 2010, 2:00PM
“I was only stopped there for few seconds, 45 minutes at the most, its unfair that the council left a video car there to catch me, they were like a dirty peeping tom, what if I dropped my child off wearing a Borat Mankini, well, me wearing the Mankini, not my son Symny, he look stuped in mankini, it for men not little boys.
I should be allowed to park there, I have a Mercedes and am therefor better than you, I like to drive it around while peeping through the steering wheel, some people see the car drive with nobody in it and think there is a ghost
You Caucasians hate ghosts”
by Nadine, Purley
Friday, August 27 2010, 5:09PM
“Wardens love hanging around schools. It's one of their big money makers, therefore the lesson to be learned is avoid parking near schools at all costs.”
by Jaye, Croydon
Friday, August 27 2010, 4:04PM
“Traffic wardens are all failures and dropouts. Hungry for money, power and respect they turn to the profession because they can't achieve this any other way.”