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Fine feels like a jail
sentence to them
SIR — Two weeks ago my mother-in-law, who is in her late eighties and is registered blind, came to Chesterfield from Dronfield Woodhouse with her companion, also in his eighties and diabetic.
They parked for 35 minutes in the Holywell Cross car park but did not put a ticket on — they quite reasonably have a Blue Badge. This was not because they objected to paying the very reasonable 50p for four hours but purely and simply because they were not aware of this relatively new charge. They were given a 35 fine, doubled to 70 if not paid within 14 days. An extra worry.
I felt sure that the parking authorities would be lenient and I collected an appeal form, filled it in for them and took it to Dronfield to be read and signed. The result was that they had to pay. No excuses, no “second chance”.
Well done the “Jobsworth” at Chesterfield car parking offices — you must be so proud of yourselves! I wonder if you know how much worry you have inflicted on these normally law abiding old people. It might only be a parking fine to you. To them it feels like a jail sentence.
I must stress that this letter is not a protest against Chesterfield car park charges which I feel must be some of the fairest in the country.
However, it seems to be that the elderly and the law abiding are now the easy targets, the soft touches for the officials in this revenue seeking country that we now live in.
When did you last see, if you dare go in, a litter warden walking around Chesterfield on a Friday or Saturday night. You won’t see one because they wouldn’t dare go round. Not easy targets you see. Stick to the old ones in daylight hours!
By the way, the driver came over to Chesterfield (by bus) especially to pay his fine in person because he was so worried that the fine would double after the time the appeal had taken.
I am aware that this letter will have no effect on the future policy of the Chesterfield car parking officers but it may help to avoid other people being inadvertently caught out. Sometimes in this world I’m glad I’m getting older — at other times I’m scared to death!
This country seems to have lost in the past few years all of its commonsense and compassion that it was once famed for and proud of.
PAUL WEBBER,
185 Hady Hill, Chesterfield.
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Weather for Chesterfield
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
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Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 20 C
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