Parking ticket as light goes unfixed; Permit holder given yellow line fine

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), Jan 26, 2008

Byline: By JOANNE DOUGLAS News Reporter

A STUDENT was given a parking ticket outside her home - despite having a permit.

Abbey Daykin parked outside her Springwood home rather than in the residents' car park behind it because it was late at night and the only light wasn't working.

But the 19-year-old was stunned when she found a ticket on the car windscreen the next morning.

She had parked on a single yellow line, which people are allowed to park on until 8am.

But an eager traffic warden handed her the ticket as the restrictions came into force.

Abbey said: "I had parked outside my own house because the light in the car park wasn't working and I didn't feel safe round there in the dark.

"I parked at the front because I have a permit, but I got a parking ticket for it.

"I couldn't believe it and I think it is really unfair."

There are around 12 spaces for more than 60 permit holders on Spring Grove Street, forcing many of them to park on neighbouring streets or in the unlit overspill car park behind the houses.

Kirklees Council offers residents the option to pay pounds 804 a year to park on the main car park at Springwood.

But for many, the only affordable alternative is to park in the remaining space, some of which is covered by a single yellow line which has restrictions during the day time but not at night.

Abbey, a occupational therapist student at York University, said: "I have parked there before and never had any of these problems.

"If Kirklees Council had fixed the light weeks ago we wouldn't have these problems, because I could park in safety."

The student pays just pounds 34 a year to park in York and is shocked at the high price charged by Kirklees Council.

"If a big city like York can charge so little, then why can't a town like Huddersfield?" she asked.

A spokesperson for Kirklees Council said: "Miss Daykin's vehicle was issued with a penalty notice because her vehicle was parked in a single yellow section and not in the permit zone. She has paid the fine.

"We aim to help residents living in areas where there are parking issues by providing permit areas as well as responding to residents needs for restrictions.

"In terms of the street light we have no record of a light being out since 2007 on that street.

"There is no record of a light out at that time in either the car park or on the street.

"Obviously if we could get more detail, lamp column number etc, we could make more enquiries."

CAPTION(S):

DISAPPOINTED: Driver Abbey Daykin and her parking Ticket (PC210108Gdaykin); UNLIT: Driver Abbey Daykin in the area where she fears to park because a street light has not been repaired (PC210108Gdaykin)