A Highbridge resident is considering taking Sedgemoor District Council to court in a dispute over an “unfair” parking fine.
Ray Leach has received a £50 parking ticket for leaving his car at the side of the roadway that runs between The George Hotel and Highbridge Cash and Carry, as pictured here.
He parks there so his disabled wife can get to the cash and carry more easily, and says he’s used the spot for many years to help his wife, always displaying a blue disabled parking badge in his windscreen when she’s there.
Ray, pictured with town councillor John Parkes, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “It’s very unfair. I’ve been parking on this private land for 30 years and never had a problem.”
“I’ve told the council this is wrong – their area starts over in the Bank Street car park, it’s not their land.”
“I have disputed it, but they’ve emailed me back to say they have refused it and they are going ahead and fining me. I’ve said ‘take me to court then’.”
He added: “The owner of the cash and carry uses the layby for access, but is happy for me to use it when we go into his shop. It’s closer for my wife. I had her disabled sign in the window this time when the ticket was issued.”
Highbridge town councillor John Parkes has given his backing to Ray, adding: “If Ray was creating an obstruction and was blocking entry to the council’s car park, then fair enough, but clearly he’s not. There’s no obstruction.”
Sedgemoor District Council spokeswoman Claire Faun told Burnham-On-Sea.com this week: “The ticket was issued for not parking in a marked bay. The land is owned by Sedgemoor and the owner of the former supermarket has a right of way.”
“We have issued PCNs in the past to cars parked in this area. The disabled badge is not relevant in this case. SDC do not interfere in the appeals process. The owner of the car has the opportunity to make an appeal to the independent Traffic Penalty Tribunal.”
Pictured: Highbridge motorist Ray Leach and town councillor John Parkes in the road where the parking fine was issued
