A disabled woman in Southport has been slapped with multiple fines for parking outside her own home, sparking controversy among locals.
Maria Rodriguez claims she has received dozens of £70 penalty charge notices for parking on a small strip of double yellow lines near her residence in Southport.
The situation has ignited a backlash against the local council with residents believing that the fines are too harsh considering she is parking outside her house.
Ms Rodriguez, who has mobility issues, says she has been forced to park in this manner due to the lack of resident parking permits and a disabled parking bay, despite requesting one for five years.
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The council claimed the Blue Badge was not displayed properly
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According to the BBC, the penalty charge notices were issued because her Blue Badge and time card were displayed incorrectly.
Sefton Council has defended its actions, stating that the fines were issued in accordance with national enforcement guidelines for parking regulations.
However, the 76-year-old argues that the rules are being applied “too rigidly” without consideration for her personal circumstances.
Rodriguez, who has lived in her home for 23 years, faces daily challenges due to her disability and the parking situation.
She said: “I’m just tired of all this because I keep getting £70 fines for parking outside my own house.”
The resident added that the lack of resident permits or a disabled bay on the road has turned her life into a “daily battle”.
She continued, saying: “If people had someone in their family, they would probably understand and they could make their voice heard louder than mine because I live alone and it’s difficult to get people to listen.”
Rodriguez, who has mobility issues, said she is often forced to park away from her house due to the absence of a designated disabled parking space.
She emphasised the issue of not having her voice heard as someone living alone with mobility issues, especially as her pleas for a disabled parking bay have been rejected.
The driver admitted that if she lived with her family, she might have had more luck seeing changes to the parking situation outside her home.
A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “There are a number of nationally set rules and responsibilities that must be adhered to when using a blue badge.
“One of those rules states that all blue badge holders must ensure their badges or time clocks are displayed correctly and made visible in the vehicle they are using, regardless of where they park.
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She described the parking situation as a ‘daily battle’
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“If this is not done – then a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) may be issued,” the BBC reported.
