Below is a copy of a letter originally sent to Bournemouth Borough Council and forwarded to us by the writer, which we felt, was so important that we have given it a whole page. It is a perfect illustration of the Bureaucratic ‘creep’ that has taken over our lives by stealth, where faceless clerics go about their endless routines of gouging yet more money from their supplicants; regardless of the circumstances or the consequences, whilst claiming to be providing a ‘Public Service’.

Update. This story has more spin-offs and sequels than an American blockbuster. For the full road trip, drive here first, then take a short cut there with a detour to see this. Don't forget to take in the sights, and park here for the view. And for the grand finale go to our local page which brings it right up to date.

(Addressed to the ‘Parking Enforcement Centre’)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I fully understand that your attendant has denied validity of my wife’s badge and apologise for the trouble caused.

My wife holds the badge for serious health reasons and I write on her behalf. Due to failing eye-sight – no vision in one eye – and deteriorating with a cataract in the other, she placed the badge wrong way up without being aware of her error.

This is the only occasion such a thing has happened, so I write in the hope that these mitigating circumstances will receive an understanding reprieve.

We were not parking illegally and I am enclosing a copy of the obscured side for your perusal.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr and Mrs Bonney 

They had a reply from the Director of Environment & Community Services which included the following:

“Your vehicle was observed in Yelverton Road which is clearly marked a restricted parking area, disabled badge holders only between the hours of 8am-6pm. The parking attendant noted the lines were clear and the sign was located approximately 10 metres to the rear of your vehicle. I enclose the photographic evidence taken by the Parking Attendant at the time the penalty Charge Notice was issued to your vehicle.

I note the comments in your letter and the supporting evidence that you have supplied with your challenge. I note at the time of the contravention your disabled badge was displayed upside down i.e. showing the photograph side uppermost. I enclose the blue badge scheme booklet and would specifically draw your attention to section 11 entitled how to use the badge Page 9 for the information on the correct way to display your disabled persons parking badge in your vehicle.” 

The letter then goes on to offer the very generous ‘discounted’ fine of £30.00 for prompt payment.

What is Wrong with This?

Mr and Mrs Bonney are in their late eighties and not in very good health. They are, like most pensioners paying extortionate council tax which they can ill afford. This is something that Dickens would have written about.

They are disabled, they were displaying their badge, it was simply upside down!

What equipment will ‘parking attendants’ have next? A complete forensics lab?

How can a Department with ‘Environment’ (Green money?) and Community (For Civil Servants?) in their title, end up robbing hard-up disabled pensioners?

I suppose this is what the Council means by supplying public services from the public purse?

Does their pedantry go as far as understanding that yards and feet are legal, metres are not, and as our road measurements should still be imperial how could the vehicle be ‘Approx. 10 metres away'?

The Council, not satisfied with all the tax they collect have vastly increased the amount of paid parking areas through the town.

So next time the Council Tax bill lands on your doorstep and you have to pay more and more for less and less, just remember the Bournemouth Blurb: “Investor in People”

There were six policemen in the Market Concourse, on the lookout for traffic violations. The lady in question did not actually drive, but had a disabled parking permit which can be used in any vehicle in which she is travelling. At the time she had got a lift into town from a friend and they had parked in a disabled parking slot. As they got out of the car, a uniformed police officer approached them, inspected the permit and then informed them that he would be issuing a summary £30 fine against the driver for parking in a disabled parking area without correctly displaying a valid disabled parking permit. When the parking permit was shown to him he pointed out that it was placed at one side of the dashboard instead of in the correct central position. Therefore it was not displayed correctly. The pass was immediately placed centrally, but the police officer refused to withdraw the fine.
The fine had to be paid within 28 days, or the driver (not the lady) had the option of going to court to appeal against it. The lady took advice from the Citizen's Advice Bureau and the Shopmobility advice centre, both of which advised her to pay the fine. If found guilty in court, the fine would be raised to £150 plus court costs, which could approach £1000. They were also of the opinion that the driver would be found guilty because, when all was said and done, the badge was displayed in the wrong place.

Should the Police be allocating time and resources to this?

With violent crime having risen by 6% in the past year we will leave you to make your own judgement.