I was told where to park by a council marshal – then I got fined

A MUSICIAN who parked outside at a charity event was slapped with a fine by the council – after one of their marshals told him to park there.

Martin Murphy was directed by a council worker to leave his car parked in an area usually reserved for buses so he could get 50kgs of music equipment to the venue.

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But when he returned, he discovered a ticket warden about to hand him a hefty penalty.

He told the Dorset Echo: “I have never known anything like it.

“I have seen some strange tickets in the past but nothing as bad as this when you are directed to do something by one council worker only for another one to then ticket the car.

“I would get it if I had actively made that decision to ignore the rules, but I did what I was directed to do.”

The baffled musician claimed he tried to explain his position to the warden but was “completely ignored.”

Martin appealed the fine and argued he would never have parked there if he had not been told by the marshal to do so.

However, the council denied his appeal.

The parking administration department responded and wrote: “It is the motorist’s responsibility to make themselves aware of and adhere to the Highway Code, as well as any signs and lines that may be present at all time, prior to leaving their vehicle parked,” the response said.

A BCP Council spokesperson told the Daily Echo: “We are unable to discuss the details of individual penalty charge notices.

“When a driver makes a challenge to a PCN, we write to advise what options there are available. These include submitting formal representation and the opportunity to approach the traffic penalty tribunal to request an appeal.”

This comes as other drivers fight ridiculous fines, including Nicky Dunn who was fined £150 despite a pay machine not working.

The Brockworth resident said she could not pay for her stay because the pay machine was out of order and her mobile phone was not picking up a signal at the rural site.

She said: “I tried to pay but I couldn’t pay. I think it’s totally unfair. I’ve never ever deliberately not paid for my parking.”

In Greater Manchester, taxi driver Gary Fox, also appealed his £70 penalty after he pulled into a disabled parking bay for “two or three minutes” to help one of his regular customers into the pharmacy.

He claimed: “It was unbelievable. The traffic warden just came from nowhere.

“There is no way he had not seen me taking the guy into the chemist. Why not think there is a nice guy helping a blind man?”

Hayley Louise Senior was slapped with the huge penalty after it took her 32 minutes to settle her three hour stay.

The 40-year-old said: “Despite being automatic number plate recognition it does not allow you to start your parking time from when you arrive which I was surprised about, so it took us 32 minutes total to pay.”

A few days later Hayley was slapped with a £100 fine and ordered to pay Civil Enforcement parking.

Currently Hayley is in an on-going battle with Civil Enforcement as she awaits a letter to attend court.