Blue badge blunder leads to parking fine for Blackpool pensioner

Frank Fineman, 81, says he and his wife Ruth, also 81, who suffers from Parkinsons disease, parked their car in a two-hour bay on Queen Street in Blackpool at 10.45am before going shopping.

But Frank, who lives on Knowle Avenue in Bispham, says due to his wife’s hands shaking she mistakenly put their parking time as noon.

And when he returned 45 minutes later he had a car parking ticket with a fine of £25.

Frank, who has lived in Blackpool for 40 years, said: “I think the traffic warden must have thought we had parked there overnight.

“The ticket was issued at 11.04am. I wrote a letter to Blackpool Council explaining what had happened but I just got a letter back saying I have to pay.

“If I had actually done something wrong I would just pay the fine but I know it was just a mistake and I hadn’t been parked over the allowed time. My wife has Parkinsons Disease and so her hands shake.

“It has upset us so much we have been going shopping in Cleveleys since so the town centre has lost two customers.”

Coun Mark Smith, from Blackpool Council, said: “We do consider appeals very carefully and sometimes have to make difficult decisions.

“Unfortunately, on this occasion this appeal was unsuccessful as the use of a Blue Badge is subject to specific conditions.

“While we are sympathetic it is the responsibility of the Blue Badge holder and driver to ensure that the Blue Badge and time clock are fully, clearly and correctly displayed before leaving the vehicle unattended.

“An individual has the right to appeal again to an Independent Parking Adjudicator.”