PARKING: Ann Street, why I'm going to have to pay this fine

I, TOO, had the misfortune to pick up a parking ticket in Ann Street, Worthing, where the sign for the suspension of the bay in question was not visible.

Apparently, it is a health and safety issue, because of the demolition work that is happening in the area, but this demolition does not happen on a Saturday or Sunday.

But these "parking wardens" do not seem able to comprehend, and run as soon as they see the car owner approaching.

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Whatever happened to common sense, or is it a health and safety issue to think for oneself and realise that in fact the signs are not visible so it would be ethically wrong to give a ticket?

After appealing this ticket, with photographic evidence, I got a letter from NCP Services based in Croydon stating that "after careful consideration of the circumstances have found no grounds for the cancellation of the charge".

My next options were to pay the reduced ticket fine of 35 within 14 days of the date of the letter or risk the extra 35 to wait for the "notice to owner" letter and hope that they would see sense.

Finally, if that didn't work, go to the independent adjudicator.

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What I would have liked to do was be able to appeal this ticket and still have the opportunity to pay the reduced fine, but in these days of "democracy", it is not acceptable and I, like probably many others, decided to pay, although the principle of it is that I still feel this was an unfair fine as the sign, and I reiterate sign, not signs, was not clearly defined and therefore I feel was not lawful.

"A licence to print money" is how someone else put it and I don't think I could better that quote.

Heide Whyatt

Worthing

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