An 87-year-old disabled man from Chesham believes elderly residents are being ‘kicked in the a***’ by Buckinghamshire Council after he received a parking fine.
Brian Dunn, who is ‘Chilterns born and bred’, regularly attends the Lifestyle Centre in Amersham as part of the frequent University of the Third Age meetings that take place at the establishment.
The pensioner has been involved in the movement for two decades and organised a successful photography club for 14 years.
He attended a meeting on August 28 but could not find a disabled bay to park, so opted to use a space which was for an electric car to be charged.
Upon his return to his vehicle roughly two hours later, he was ‘shocked’ to discover that he had received a ticket.
Speaking to the Free Press, he said: “I need a hip replacement but I can’t get one as I have osteoporosis.
“I use two mobility scooters and a walking frame.
“I have had a persistent cough and have always battled with leukaemia.
“I am disabled with a blue badge, so when I went to the leisure centre, I couldn’t find a disabled bay to use.
“I saw there were around a dozen car park spaces that were empty but they were for electric charges to charge in, so you can imagine by shock when I found a ticket had been left for me.
“I have seen people go into the gym at the leisure centre but they park their cars in the disabled bay.
“It is ridiculous, and it is not fair in the slightest.
“I can afford the £70 fine without blinking, but I need to expose Buckinghamshire Council as they are kicking the a*** of many retired residents, who are council taxpayers, with fines as they do not have enough efficiently disabled bays at the leisure centre.
“Disabled people need to be able to park close to the centre and not get punished when they are forced to find something else close by.”
Mr Dunn also revealed that he appealed the penalty to the Council, only for it to be rejected.
He admitted that ‘he may well have to’ pay the fine, but wants to ‘spread awareness’ of the ‘insufficient amount’ of disabled bays at the leisure centre.
There are 244 spaces at the leisure centre, but only 14 are registered for those who are legally disabled.
Buckinghamshire Council provided the following information: “The appeal process is a three-stage approach.
“Therefore, if a notice is upheld at the informal appeal stage, the motorist has the opportunity to appeal further.
“This can include proceeding to the third stage which involves an independent adjudicator.
“There is further information on our website around the appeal process and we would recommend the resident looks at this to find out more information.”
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