EXCLUSIVE: Anger as despite residents payment entire Hornchurch car park issued parking fines.

Resident hits back-‘I’m concerned the elderly will just pay the fines when they shouldn’t as they all had paid to park.’

On Tuesday 16 April local residents who visited the Queen’s Theatre to watch a special performance, left the theatre to find that all their vehicles had parking fines despite them having paid. Zoe who had been issued a fine at the Billet Lane car park, has hit out at the council, concerned that many elderly people will immediately pay the fine, despite having paid to park.

She told the Havering Daily:”I couldn’t believe what I saw, every vehicle except one with a blue badge had a parking fine on it. My biggest worry was the lady who had parked next to me was so upset receiving the fine that she was asking me if she could pay it there and then inside the theatre, when she had already paid to park! Many pensioners will not appeal and just pay outright and that is awful. I know the council needs money, but that is not the way to do it.

“I was shocked when I got to my car, and so was everyone else. We all left the theatre at the end of the show and walked across to the car park and that is when we saw that the entire car park had been ticketed. You would think the warden would realise there was an issue. This clearly was an easy picking for the warden wasn’t it. They knew we were all inside the theatre so there was no one there to challenge them. It really is appalling.”

Zoe is also angry with the easy response of ‘appeal’ the ticket.

She continued: “The tickets should not have been issued in the first place and should just be cancelled. The appeal system is is difficult for many and many pensioners will not go through the long process so the council will make all this money from people who have paid. I will fight this ticket, but many will not.

“It’s equally not right for the Queen’s Theatre, they encourage people to come and watch the shows and when they do, this is what happens! I have had a person from the theatre contact me in regards to this.

“I posted what had happened to me on Facebook and I couldn’t believe the response I received. Over eighty people had also had similar experience across the borough. I really am appalled.”

Linda also received a ticket in Romford last week and told the Havering Daily:”I showed the warden the screen that clearly demonstrated that I had paid. Yet he did not care, was not interested and said ‘appeal’. I am prepared to go to court now. I am also unhappy that the warden took my photograph. I understand photographing my vehicle, but not me. That is not right. I then took his picture and he soon walked off hiding his face.

“The appeal system is pointless. I doubt whether they even read the objections. They just want to make money.”

The Havering Daily contacted the council for a comment.

The parking ticket issued on Tuesday evening despite payment.

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