Get parking £40 repaid

Published: 18 November, 2010

• SARAH Duncan’s letter (November 11) concerned an elderly visitor who was penalised for scratching off 2.45 on his parking voucher instead of 14.45.

Because the error is so understandable (and there is no risk that the voucher could have been reused) I would strongly recommend a letter is written promptly to the council asking for the £40 to be repaid to the visitor. 

If the council refuse, I would invite the official making the decision to justify this behaviour in the New Journal. Ms Duncan refers to the risk of a fine rising to £80 or £120 before any appeal is heard. I think that this is only partly correct: if a timely challenge is made to the ticket, the penalty will rise to £80 but is then frozen at that level until the case is heard by the Adjudicator. 

Of course, that is not totally fair. 

But it is the law.

KEITH M GORDON
Atlas Chambers
Field Court, Gray’s Inn,
WC1R 5EP
www.atlaschambers.com