First question after my friend died: Is the situation permanent?

Published: 6 January, 2011

• I ASSUME that your correspondent who was given a parking ticket while delivering to a charity shop was caught on a camera (No charity with parking, Letters, December 30). 

Cameras can, perhaps, be excused for a lack of sensitivity but not the staff of Parking Services. 

Two days before Christmas, a long-standing friend of mine died. 

She had a disabled parking permit so I rang Parking Services to ask what to do as I assumed her permit was no longer valid. I was asked first if the “situation was permanent” and pointed out that usually death was. 

In the course of some seven phone calls (including being cut off), I was variously advised. First, to apply for a residents’ parking permit – I pointed out dead people could not apply for permits and ownership transfer of the car was not possible at this stage. 

Then, to use visitors’ permits – the same problem arises. 

I was told that the residents’ permit application was “a concession” and was the best I would get. 

No, I could not speak to a supervisor, and, when I visited the Town Hall, was told that no similar cases had ever been dealt with. 

On call seven I was told the car could remain on the road. 

Given the other contradictory advice, I anticipate that at some point the car will be hauled off to the pound. 

At no stage was there any acknowledgement that I might be upset at the death of a friend.

I anticipated that I would be told a note would be placed on file to stop removal while matters were being sorted. 

It was unclear to me whether there is in fact no policy for dealing with situations such as the above, whether the staff of Parking Services are unaware of the policy or that they are just grossly insensitive to bereavement. Perhaps we could have clarification from Parking Services as I cannot believe mine was a unique case. 

MICK FARRANT
Oak Village, NW5