‘Punished for being old’ – Gran Patricia Wager clamped

Published: 05 August, 2010
by JOSIE HINTON

A GRANDMOTHER has been forced to hand over £95 after her car was clamped in her own private parking space.

Patricia Wager pays £170 each year for a space in the private car park outside her home in Brampton House, Red Lion Square, Holborn.

The 60-year-old was therefore shocked to receive a phone-call from the car pound informing her that the vehicle would be towed away unless she paid the release fee immediately.

She had temporarily removed the permit from her windscreen to prevent it blowing away as she drove to see her grandchildren with the windows open. On returning home she forgot to replace it.

But despite providing evidence proving she is the sole occupant of private space, Camden Council has refused her appeal on the grounds that “a valid permit must be clearly displayed at all times”.

Ms Wager said: “I am being penalised for being old and having a poor memory. In these days of modern technology, it should surely be possible for Camden Council operatives to have access to a computer to check if a car parked on one of its estates has a permit.

“It should not be necessary to be harassed in this way. The fact remains that I do have a permit, a fact which can easily be checked by Camden Council when deciding to allow an appeal.”

A spokeswoman for Camden Council said: “All resident permit holders have a responsibility to display their permit when parking. As is clearly stated in the terms and conditions that all permit holders agree to, if a valid permit is not displayed the vehicle could be clamped or removed. Ms Wager was reminded of these rules in December when a similar incident occurred.”