Parking justice at last

• HAVING read with sympathy of fellow motorists whose cars were ticketed or towed away for having out-of-date resident’s parking permits, let me tell you of the (eventual) happy end to my battle with the Camden parking authorities.

On March 15 this year my car was ticketed and was only saved from being towed away by the intervention of my neighbour.  

An hour later a letter dropped though my letterbox informing me that my permit was due to expire on March 5. 

The date on the envelope was March 14!

Naturally I appealed against this penalty and was duly turned down and warned that if I wished to proceed further the full penalty charge would be applied. 

I wasn’t prepared to take this risk so I paid up but said I would still like an explanation of the timing of their “reminder”.

After an unsatisfactory response I fired off another – my third – letter. This morning I received a letter of apology saying my £40 would be refunded. Justice at last! 

I would encourage others in my position to persist in their protests. The authorities rely on people giving up at the first hurdle. 

SUSAN WOOD
Oak Village, NW5 

Published: 14 July, 2011