We live by Silverstone F1 track… crowd chaos saw us fined for parking outside our own homes
RESIDENTS living by the iconic Silverstone race track have slammed crowd chaos that saw them fined for parking outside their own homes.
Locals of the nearby Northamptonshire village of the same name were handed £1,500 worth of fines over strict parking rules during last month's British Grand Prix.
A highlight of the F1 calendar became a nightmare for local motorists as a temporary traffic regulation order (TTRO) was imposed on the area.
The idea of the order was to prevent members of the record crowd of 480,000 spectators parking in nearby villages at the expense of residents.
However, a misunderstanding appears to have led to people with exemption permits being fined anyway.
Mel Dennision, who has lived in Silverstone for 60 years and has multiple sclerosis, told : "We've never had this issue before. We've never been demanded to move our cars
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"I've always left my car there with my residents' pass and blue badge and never been asked to move it before. Never."
Fellow resident Lousie Fleming, who works at the White Horse pub, slammed the "chaos" of the race weekend as the "worst I've ever seen".
Track bosses have said they will pay the fines as a gesture of ";goodwill" towards the local community.
Residents have been able to send their fixed penalty notices in and receive a refund.
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A spokesperson for the circuit said that payments would be sent out five days after the notice was received.
Its managing director Stuart Pringle added: "Following criticism from local residents of lack of parking enforcement over the F1 weekend in 2021 and 2022, we worked hard with the appropriate bodies to ensure that those who ignore the parking restrictions that are put in place to enable the safe running of our event and the safe enjoyment of the villages, were penalised.
"We communicated these local and temporary enforcements in good time and in good faith, but they were always intended to deter and punish our customers and not local residents."
It comes after drivers were warned about being slapped with fines over an angry reaction while driving past speed cameras.
Meanwhile, a car expert revealed what your rights are if your neighbour parks across your driveway.
