Woman's fine for parking on own street cancelled

A woman has won a battle with Herefordshire Council over a fine for parking in her own street despite having a valid permit.

Sally Mayne, of Portfield Street in Hereford, said she was hit with the £50 parking control notice (PCN) even though she was up to date with permit payments and had a track record of four years of consecutive permits.

"It's hard enough already without the council preying on law-abiding citizens who are already struggling financially," she said.

The council said there had been a delay in getting Ms Mayne's new permit to her and confirmed it had cancelled the fine.

"We have to pay £30 a year for a resident's parking permit, then the same again for a visitor's permit," said Ms Mayne. "They don't issue you a new one until the old one runs out."

Her new permit was due to come into effect on 22 October, but by the following day had yet to arrive. With no current permit displayed in her car, she received a fine of £50.

"You have to pay [the fine] within 14 days otherwise it more than doubles," she said. "I hear this sort of thing from friends all the time, and they too are challenging their tickets."

After Ms Mayne appealed against the PCN, the council acknowledged she had paid for the parking permit – but maintained that she was in contravention of its conditions by not displaying it.

The authority confirmed it had told Ms Mayne her ticket had been rescinded.

It told her she had renewed her permit six days before it was due to expire, and while "it was posted within our two-week period, there was a delay in you receiving this in time".

It was therefore cancelling the fine "on this sole occasion".

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