I’m fuming after my camper van was slapped with a fine – it’s discrimination

A MOTORIST has been left fuming after his camper van was hit with a parking fine, describing the action as ‘blatant discrimination”.

Steve Foakes, 56, was visiting his sister in Bournemouth, Dorset, and parked his Citroen campervan on Cecil Road on November 1 at around 5.30pm.

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To prevent blocking in another vehicle he left a two-foot gap between the two which meant he partially blocked a dropped kerb.

When he returned to his vehicle later he found he had been slapped with a £75 parking ticket.

However, Mr Foakes only became really annoyed when he noticed at least seven other vehicles parked over dropped kerbs had not been ticketed.

Mr Foakes told the Bournemouth Echo: “The issue with Cecil Road is there are dropped kerbs all the way along.

“There’s no road markings or signs to say parking on or by a dropped kerb is illegal and there was no reason for one to be there as there’s no driveway.

“There were other cars blocking dropped kerbs all day and had no tickets issued, that’s a real kick. I feel this is blatant discrimination against myself for owning a campervan.”

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) has confirmed a complaint was made against Mr Foakes’ campervan, resulting in a ticket.

No complaints about other vehicles were received.

Mr Foakes, originally from New Milton, added: “If I came back and saw 10 other cars ticketed too I would say that’s absolutely fine. I’m not saying I haven’t parked at a dropped kerb – I have – and if that is illegal then I’ll pay the fine and take the hit.

“But my point is, why single out me and not ticket anyone else. They shouldn’t isolate one vehicle and let everyone else get away with it.

“How can they say it’s illegal for me to park by a dropped kerb but all the others are okay just because they haven’t had a report?”

A BCP Council spokesperson said: “Parking in front of dropped kerbs can have an impact on the safety of people including those with lower levels of mobility such as wheelchair users and those with pushchairs.

“It can prevent members of the public from gaining access to the road or carriageway or from getting their vehicles in and out of their driveways.

“Members of the public are able to report blocked access by contacting our parking team via the BCP Council website where enforcement action may be taken.

“Enforcement action would be taken to vehicles parked on a dropped kerb in the same street if homeowners required access and had reported it to BCP Council.”

Mr Foakes has appealed the fine.