A MAN who was given a ticket for parking near a disabled space for his wife has had it overturned following enquiries by the Standard.

John Gooderham, 74, of Steeple Road, Latchingdon, was parked in Butt Lane car park, Maldon, when he was given a ticket.

John’s wife, Christine, is disabled and requires a hoist to get in and out of her car. This means that John is unable to park in regular spaces. With all the disabled spaces full, John parked on the hatched area at the end of the row of disabled parking spaces, in order to be able to get Christine in and out of the car without causing a queue.

However, when he returned to his car, on November 2, he found a parking ticket.

John said: “Parking in this area I did not cause any obstruction to vehicles entering or exiting the premises. There was plenty of room for vehicle access between the dustcart lorry which was parked in the roadway behind me and my vehicle. In the past I have parked in that area with the approval of a sympathetic parking attendant’s permission, when he assessed the situation. 

“In that past, when I was forced to use a normal car park space, I brought the car park to a standstill.

“It is crazy that I can legally park on double yellow lines which could cause even more traffic congestion in the High Street, but not park in a remote area of a car park causing no obstruction. I was unaware the parking rules were so religiously enforced.”

John appealed to try and have his ticket waived, but the charge was upheld. However, following enquiries by the Standard, the appeal was waived by Maldon District Council as a “gesture of goodwill”.

A spokesman said: “Hatched areas must be kept clear at all times as delivery vehicles need this space in order to manoeuvre and cars stopping on them even for a short time, is not permitted. Any future tickets will be upheld.”

John said: “I think it is the right thing to do on this occasion. We weren’t trying to be clever.

“I thought it was the best place to park in order not to cause disruption.”