Melton pensioner gets ticket for parking on his own driveway

Colin Way parked his Vauxhall Meriva outside his home on Elms Road last month, parallel with the footpath, as he has done since the early 1980s.

But he was astounded to later find there was a parking ticket fixed to his windscreen, despite one wheel being just inches outside the driveway and on the public path.

Mr Way reluctantly paid the £35 for the infringement after being told it would go up to £70 if he didn’t settle it within 14 days.

He now wants the enforcement authority, Leicestershire County Council, to reconsider the basis of the fine and reimburse him with the money.

“I’ve been parking on my drive outside my house for the last 35 years and I’ve never had a ticket in all that time,” Mr Way told the Melton Times.

“They sent me four photos showing the car and they are very dark - you can’t really see very clearly where the car is.

“But it must have been only a couple of inches outside my driveway.

“To give me a ticket for that is ridiculous.

“I’m 81 and I don’t need the stress of all this.”

The council has refused his appeal. There are yellow lines outside Mr Way’s property and he was fined because the footpath is regarded as ‘highway land’, which extends from his driveway to the road.

Mr Way added: “I’ve always parked in this way outside the house so I’ve probably had my wheel slightly outside the drive before but never had a ticket.

“My next-door neighbour got a parking ticket for parking on his drive as well and he is not very happy either.”

County Hall said a ‘no waiting’ restriction on roads with a double or single yellow line restriction applies from the centre of the carriageway to the highway boundary - in town settings this is generally to the back edge of the footpath.

A spokesperson told the Melton Times: “Our parking officers are trained to observe parking offences and establish whether there is a legitimate reason for issuing a parking penalty.

“Vehicle owners have the opportunity to appeal against penalties and all cases are considered on an individual basis.

“A written explanation is given when requests for cancellations are not accepted and drivers then have the option of appealing to an independent tribunal.”