Motorists hit by '˜illegal' fines at Chesterfield Royal layby

Reg Oliver in the layby outside Chesterfield Royal Hospital which he believes is subject to dubious fines.

Reg Oliver, 82, of Lime Close says the yellow lines that have been painted on the entrances to layby should not be there.

As a result, he claims Derbyshire County Council has received revenue through incorrect fines for several years.

“I don’t like people getting ripped off,” says Reg.

The layby outside Chesterfield Royal Hospital which is subject to dubious fines according to Reg Oliver.

“I can’t abide things like that - I just want a level playing field for drivers.”

The issue arose a few years ago when a traffic regulation order - or TRO - was imposed on Chesterfield Road.

However, the yellow lines that were added to the road at the time were extended into the layby - illegally says Reg.

“The council says it isn’t really a layby but the plan for the TRO itself says it is,” he says.

“They have dug themselves a hole they can’t get out of it.”

Reg has even gone so far as to leave notes on people’s cars telling them they can challenge the fines - but says people are ‘frightened to death’ of doing so.

Reg - who has 30 years experience in the transport sector and another 15 in road safety - says he has also been in touch with the police as part of his campaign, but they have told him that no crime has been committed.

A county council spokesman said: “This is an access road, not a layby, and the parking tickets that have been issued have been for contravening the yellow lines at both entrances.

“However, there is a comprehensive appeals process so if someone has had a parking ticket which they don’t believe they should have received then they can challenge it through that process.”