Stoke residents refuse to pay parking tickets on the street where they live
RESIDENTS are refusing to pay parking tickets they have been issued with for leaving their cars outside their homes.
Families in Water Street, Stoke, have been stunned to discover they are being booked for leaving their vehicles on paved areas at the back of their properties.
Some residents claim the sections of land, which lead up to their homes from a dropped kerb, are actually extensions of their driveways.
But the cars often encroach on the pavement and there are double yellow lines on both sides of the road and, as a result, Stoke-on-Trent City Council has issued the tickets.
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Housewife Lynn Colley says people have been forced to park outside their homes since a barrier was put up blocking access to five parking bays at the bottom of the street.
Lynn, aged 45, said: "The barrier just popped up one day. After it appeared we started getting parking tickets for using our driveways.
"They say it is obstructing a public footpath but we don't agree.
"When Stoke City are at home, it is absolutely jam packed in this street and nobody ever got fined."
Now Lynn has started a petition to call for the barrier, erected about 12 months ago, to be taken down.
She added: "I have been here for nine years and never had a problem until this barrier was put up."
On the Queen's Diamond Jubilee bank holiday, eight cars were booked on the street including a vehicle belonging to Lynn and husband Antony.
Recycling business owner Antony, aged 37, said: "I am refusing to pay to park outside my own house. It is just ridiculous.
"We have a seven seater car and a van for my business.
"We try to back them up as close to the fence as possible but they are large vehicles and need the extra room." As well as removing the barrier, residents want their parking fines refunded.
Neighbour Lakshmie Goonasinghe has been given two tickets in the last month.
The full-time student and housewife said: "We have no-where left to park.
"It cost me £70 in parking tickets and I tried to explain but there is nothing we can do.
"We can't just sell the car – we have three kids and have to do the school run as well as going shopping."
A council spokesman said that the barrier was in place as the parking bays are for the use of elderly residents in adjacent South Terrace and will not be removed.
He added that residents had the option of making representations to the council's highways department requesting that it looks at changing the on-street parking restrictions.
Comments
by coza1974
Tuesday, July 17 2012, 7:04PM
“MHGVFSHKBVF Thank you when put like that I will answer your questions Firstly the driveway is my driveway and not sure of the fence thing be honest , regarding parking on it and it without complaint and so on there have been cars parking on there own driveways here for the last 30 odd years so think we have definatly claimed the rite to park. I can't explain further but you are most welcome to come meet me and see for your self this goes for anyone then I'm sure you will see for your self and I would welcome your comments thank's Lynn.”
by MHGVFSHKBVF
Tuesday, July 17 2012, 6:19PM
“Now I am confused Coza1974, i'm not sure which of my comments have offended you so much but it certainly was not my intention. I'm just questioning bits missed from the story, a story posted on a public website with an option to comment. Have I asked a question that you can't/ don't want to answer?
Is the area outside of the driveway gates part of your official boundry? If yes, could you not fence it off? If it is part of your driveway I don't understand why you could get a ticket for that!
Do you have a right of way only over the said area? If yes, then i'm afraid that you cannot park on this area, only drive over it as an access point to your land. Also, if this is not your land & you have used it as part of your driveway for a certain period of time without complaint you may have earned yourself rights over this area.
Before you get so defensive please try to accept that as the story does not cover every part of the problem, some posters may ask for clarification on some points. This way we get to hear not just the Sent's version but also the people affected in the story :)”
by oohlala63
Tuesday, July 17 2012, 5:07PM
“Coza, I would suggest not getting into an argument with anyone on here, some people are just bored so you will be doing them a favour if you argue with them. Let them have their say and ignore them as they don't understand the ins and outs of your issue and your argument is with the Highways not them. :-)”
by coza1974
Tuesday, July 17 2012, 4:51PM
“MHGVFSHKBVF oh deer you so need to get a life my friend have ye tried Facebook that seams right up you ally plenty of moaning /arguments on there for ye to quench your obvious useless opions lol”
by MHGVFSHKBVF
Tuesday, July 17 2012, 4:38PM
“Coza1974 - Yes confused, that why I questioned a few points.
And you are quite correct, this isn't my problem so it probably doesn't matter to me.
However, thisisstaffordshire is my local new website and it gives me the option to comment on any news story that I like, so I will. If you don't appreciate the comments maybe thisisstaffordshire was not the place to air your problems.
All that aside, is the area outside your gates included in your land registry boundry? or do you just have a right of way over the area? It does make a difference to your problem.”
by coza1974
Tuesday, July 17 2012, 4:20PM
“MHGVFSHKBVF Confused or just argumentative well has stated in no end of comments that the barrier at the bottom of the street is for ANYONE so includes our visitors of the houses or for us to park ye see I don't know what is confusing but has this isn't your problem doesn't matter.”
by MHGVFSHKBVF
Tuesday, July 17 2012, 3:16PM
“I'm confused.....
Lynn Colley was quoted as saying "people have been forced to park outside their homes since a barrier was put up blocking access"
So where did the residents park before the barrier? did they not park on their "drive" before the barrier?
Then Coza1974 has commented " the car is parked on the drive with a slight overhang on to the pavement" slight or not, the car is overhanging onto the pavement. Coza1974 then goes on to complain about the gated off parking. Why worry about gated parking if you have your own drive? Is it a drive or no? is is included in the boundry plan for the property?”
by coza1974
Tuesday, July 17 2012, 1:05PM
“Firstly the car was pulled forward for for photographic purposes and the car is parked on the drive with a slight over hang on to the pavement leaving plenty of room for wheelchairs or pushchairs. Secondly my dispute is about additional street parking being gated off and claimed as allocated parking when a)to be allocated it has to be registered with land registry and numbered accordingly it is neither registered or numbered b) double yellow lines painted within this newly claimed compound prove that it is still part of a public highway and as such the compound is legally a temporary fixture which the council claim they intend as permanent. nobody at stoke on trent city council will take responsibility for the compound and in the mean time they send parking enforcement round to fine house occupiers while there are five empty spaces available which those same occupiers are being denied access to.Whilst i appreciated disabled persons need permanent parking these spaces are not disabled bays and are never occupied other than by occasional visitors.”
by Juzzah
Tuesday, July 17 2012, 12:53PM
“I am sorry but this is not a story, your vehicles are either blocking the public footpath or are on double yellow lines. If you think this is incorrect then I suggest you buy a Highway Code and check!! The phots clearly show that the vehicles are sticking out almost to the curb therefore blocking the footpath, accept your fines and stop crying when you are in the wrong”
by almay
Monday, July 16 2012, 7:44PM
“hello
Without more information It is very difficult to comment on this very sad situation for the residents. However I do know from experience that it is very difficult to win a battle against Stoke on Trent City Council. I am not saying don't try but you must expect a result that you don't really want. Sadly we must all realise that we do not really live in a democratic country.
Best of luck with your quest
Cheers
al”