'Parking wardens prowl Purley High Street', complains man given two tickets in a week
TRAFFIC wardens who prowl the borough's most ticketed road were facing new claims of heavy-handedness this week.
Ian Robinson has accused council workers of preying on motorists while parking bays in Purley High Street are closed because of roadworks.
Mr Robinson, 54, was caught twice in one week while collecting Indian takeaways.
The marketing consultant said he was forced to park on the kerb because all the parking spaces were cordoned off.
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But after rushing into Zaal to collect the family takeaway, he returned after five minutes to find a penalty notice slapped on his windscreen.
Mr Robinson said: "It happened when the roadworks were ridiculous, the parking spaces were closed off and there was nowhere to park at all.
"I just went to pick up the curry – it's my Friday night routine with the wife and children in front of the TV after they finish taekwondo.
"I was only there for five minutes, because I ring up beforehand, and I'd been given a ticket. I looked down the road and all the cars were plastered with them because there was nowhere to park."
The marketing consultant added: "It's cynical from the council. They were preying on people. They knew there were big roadworks there and not many spaces for anyone and so they exploited it. It was disgusting.
"It sends off the wrong message about the council. We expect them to be sympathetic.
"You just want to see some common sense rather than behaving in a way that is not conducive to everyday living.
"It's the most expensive takeaway of my life."
The parking ticket was Mr Robinson's second in a week while collecting a takeaway during the height of the roadworks.
He was issued with two £120 fines but only paid half for settling the penalty within a week.
In May, the Advertiser reported how 6,665 parking tickets were issued on the road in 2010/11 – the highest in the whole of Croydon.
The figure compares with 4,437 in Cherry Orchard Road, which is about a third longer, and 4,094 and 3,556 in London Road and Brighton Road respectively.
The penalty for serious parking contraventions was raised by London Councils £10 in April this year, with tickets now ranging from anywhere between £60, for "less serious" offences, and £130 for "more serious" breaches.
A council spokesman said: "There has been an effect on parking availability in Purley during the time that the regeneration works have been undertaken, but the onus remains on the motorist to observe the regulations.
"The number of civil enforcement officers in the area has not been increased and, as is always the case, penalty charge notices have been issued only when breaches of the parking regulations have occurred."
Comments
by meatydonkey
Sunday, December 18 2011, 6:06PM
“Why not stop parking illegally, don't be irritated that parking wardens are looking out for people like you, thats what they get paid to do.
Also 1 parking ticket, possibly a genuine mistake...
2 parking tickets in a week, your thick if the first one wasn't a warning, your a repeat offended, clearly an idiot, and running to the papers like this, clearly don't think you have done anything wrong either, which you have, so why not have just one curry a week, your back side will thank you”
by Dollydreamer
Tuesday, December 13 2011, 1:09PM
“"Why not park at Tesco's?" that would mean he would have to walk and most drivers are allergic. There is a carpark almost next door to that takeaway he's standing in front of that costs 30 pence per hour to park in but then I guess that's still too far away for some”
by LAFANTASTICA
Tuesday, December 13 2011, 1:08PM
“Thanks!! :-)”
by msbloggs
Tuesday, December 13 2011, 12:36PM
“I have no sympathy for some car drivers, they think they own the flipping roads. They are also very bad for congestion. Leave the car at home or get a bike. Doesnt apply to you Anne:)”
by LAFANTASTICA
Tuesday, December 13 2011, 12:24PM
“Why not park at Tesco's?”
by nicecityboy
Tuesday, December 13 2011, 8:45AM
“tbaby, he must have been thinking "third time lucky"!”
by tbabygib
Monday, December 12 2011, 5:41PM
“Just looked the Photo again. and he has parked outside the take away for his photo.! Will he ever learn? Thought not...”
by meatydonkey
Monday, December 12 2011, 5:21PM
“it did, he had a scratch on his scooter, and it was his fault too, he fell over onto a parked car, then said the car hit him
Can't trust these parking nazis”
by nicecityboy
Monday, December 12 2011, 3:37PM
“bigdonkey, did that make you feel happy?”
by bigdonkey
Monday, December 12 2011, 2:52PM
“if it helps I got a parking ticket out side my house a couple of years ago, the parking monkey was there, I asked if it was ok for 2 mins while I unloaded the car, yes no problem he said, 30 seconds later I get back and theres a parking ticket there, I contested it, and lost.
Then the very same parking warden had an accident in front of me, he went on about I was a witness and he wanted a statement, I showed him a scanned copy of my parking ticket and asked if it was his, then explained that he was an ******** and could jog on
Karma eh?”