Driver wins fight to overturn fine

A MOTORIST who took his five-month battle against a parking fine to a tribunal has won, following a barrister’s ruling that a street sign is illegal.

David Parker (64), from Springhead and his wife, who has mobility issues, had parked in Court Street, Uppermill on double yellow lines and displayed their blue badge entitling them to three hours parking.

Mr Parker was left fuming after wardens issued a £30 fine one minute after he parked, last September. The couple were taking part in a hospice charity treasure hunt.

He said: “I hadn’t seen a sign on our side of the road, though there was one across the road which did not apply. When I spoke to Oldham Council, they said Court Street was a restricted street and only vehicles loading and unloading were allowed to be there.

“But I objected because parking lines and signs should be visible and, in my opinion, the ones in Court Street weren’t.”

Mr Parker contested the case at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal in Manchester.

He said: “We must have been in there for two minutes when the barrister ruled the sign to be illegal because it didn’t comply with 2002 traffic regulations. The fine was withdrawn.

“I don’t know how long the sign has been there. But even if it was placed in September, a lot of people might have paid the fine without contesting it, which is a fair bit of money for the council.

“It has taken five months to get to this stage and my wife kept saying to just pay the fine. I said no — because I’m stubborn.

“I understand from shop owners and residents of Court Street that people were regularly issued with tickets for parking in the same location and it has been going on for years. So how many others have successfully challenged the legality of the sign and won, and, if that is the case, why is the sign still there?”

A spokesman for Oldham Council said it could not comment until it received a report from the hearing.