2 October (Part 3) - Parking fines. Exposing Bexley’s dishonesty. (Episode 3)
“In
your letter you stated that you were unaware that a loading restriction was in
force because the kerb stripes were faded and the sign was obscured. Whilst we
have noted your comments and the circumstances described in your letter, it is
the responsibility of the motorist to ensure they are parked in accordance with all applicable restrictions.”
So said Bexley council on 17th August 2009 when dismissing the
disabled former policeman’s
appeal against his parking fine. So he photographed the evidence which Civil
Enforcement Officer BL286 said he had recorded in his notebook and sent it to
Bexley council. On 16th September a demand for payment of £120 was issued with a
threat to increase it to £180 if no payment was forthcoming within 28 days, which
prompted a letter to Greg Tippett, one of Bexley council’s Parking Managers and an ‘Authorised Officer’.
A week later the fine was cancelled.
“The reason for cancellation is that we have cancelled it.” Not much of a reason
is it? Why didn’t they come out with truth? ‘We ignored you twice in a concerted attempt to pervert the
course of justice, we conspired as best we could to defraud you but we failed
and we are sorry to have been caught out.’
The policeman saw things much the same way too and so began the two and a half
year battle to get Bexley council to admit that it pays no regard to justice or
the law. In this case the Road Traffic Acts. More to come…
This story is reported in an indeterminate number of episodes.
A cumulative version is provided for convenience.