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PARK STRIFE

Driver outraged after being fined £75 – for painting her own disabled parking space

Blue badge holder Elaine Bacon took matters into her own hands when she couldn't find a parking space

A driver who painted her own disabled parking bay outside her home has been hit with a £75 fine.

Blue badge holder Elaine Bacon, 55, said she took the drastic action after struggling to find a parking space outside her house.

 Elaine's husband Daniel painted the makeshift disabled bay after other motorists ignored signs requesting not to park there
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Elaine's husband Daniel painted the makeshift disabled bay after other motorists ignored signs requesting not to park thereCredit: PA:Press Association
 Elaine said she was left crying in pain after being forced to "crawl" back to her house
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Elaine said she was left crying in pain after being forced to "crawl" back to her houseCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

She said she was left "crying in pain" and forced to "crawl" back home because of spinal nerve damage suffered in 2008, the .

After putting up signs to ask motorists to leave space failed, her husband Daniel, 44, painted the makeshift disabled bay in Laurie Avenue, Nottingham.

But Nottingham City Council community protection officers were not impressed and slapped her with a £75 fine.

Elaine, who requires a wheelchair whenever she leaves the house, fumed: "I think’s it’s absolutely appalling.

"I can’t walk more than 20 yards but I have to park 20 yards down the street and crawl back to my premises to get back, crying in pain."

Frustrated Elaine, who has lived at the property for 34 years, said has been left unable to work since her injury.

She added: "It prevents me from doing everything, I am mostly wheelchair bound. If I go out I can’t walk.

"I go with my husband and the wheelchair has always got to be with us."

But despite her outrage, she said would not appeal the fine, adding: "What’s the point? They will just get away with it anyway. I think I’ll just pay it and that’s it."

 Nottingham City Council community protection officers were not impressed with the DIY bay and slapped Elaine with a £75 fine
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Nottingham City Council community protection officers were not impressed with the DIY bay and slapped Elaine with a £75 fineCredit: PA:Press Association
 Elaine has said she won't appeal against the fine, adding: "What's the point? They will just get away with it anyway"
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Elaine has said she won't appeal against the fine, adding: "What's the point? They will just get away with it anyway"Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

Nottingham City Council confirmed that Mrs Bacon was a valid blue badge holder

But it said the road might be "too narrow to safely accommodate a disabled parking bay.

A council spokesman said: ‘They have attempted to reserve themselves a space outside their home on Laurie Avenue by placing unauthorised markings on the road, resulting in a £75 fine.

"Only the highway authority is allowed to carry out such road markings, but in fact no longer provides advisory bays like this and the road may in any case be too narrow one."

 

 


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