We’ve been fined for driving on our OWN STREET because of council jobsworths – we can’t even get our kids to hospital
FUMING motorists have slammed council "jobsworths" who have fined people for driving down their own STREET.
One mum on troubled Marlborough Hill in Harrow, north west London, even struggled to get her poorly son to and from hospital because of daft rules the council say create "safer and more pleasant environments" for youngsters.
Many residents also say they can't even have friends and family over to their house because of the barking parking restrictions which require residents to get permits online.
The rules apply on weekdays during term time between 8am and 9.30am and 2.30pm and 4pm as part of the ‘school street’ initiative.
They are also in place on nearby Leys Close, Rugby Close, Ranmoor Gardens and Badminton Close.
The controversial decision - which became permanent in January after an 18-month trial - is punishing everyone, including those who don't drive.
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Banker and mum-of-one Ardha Patel, 50, has "given up" inviting her friends over after a pal was fined a ridiculous £190 under the rules.
She said: ‘’I am not happy at all, no-one is. You have to register online which I have done and I have a permit.
‘’However, some people don’t drive, what are they going to do if they have a doctor’s appointment? No taxi is going to come here. It is very unfair."
She called on the council to scrap the scheme and questioned why other roads in the area are not subject to the same punishing rules as they are.
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While stay at home mum-of-one Oskana Batanova, 36, said she has written to "horrible" Town Hall bosses begging for a permit for six months after an awful health scare experience.
She said: "A few weeks ago my son was ill and had to go to A&E.
"When he came back his dad had to drop him on another road before he could be bought home into my arms.
‘’They are horrible and this whole experience has been horrible.’’
She claims no one is answering her pleas and claim she is not registered on the council database- despite moving into her home in October.
One of my friends is blind and her taxi driver was fined £50
Sylvia, local pensioner
While retired NHS admin worker and gran-of-three Sylvia, 80, who did not want to give her surname, said: ‘’The idea is good in principle, but the difficulty is taxis for people who are not very mobile.
‘’One of my friends is blind and her taxi driver was fined £50.
‘’It takes away some people’s freedom. Taxis should be allowed to park here at any time without following the restriction.’’
But one resident, Abdul Noormohamed, has been victorious over the council after overturning an eyewatering £650 of fines despite already being registered to park.
The 39-year-old said "justice" had been served after he had five wrongful tickets revoked.
IT worker and father-of-two Apurva Zaveri, 50, argued the school was to blame for causing too much congestion in the first place but the council’s response was an over-reaction.
He said: ‘’The school should manage the way people come and park here.
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But he conceded taxis and delivery people "need to be exempt".
Council bosses said: ‘’School Streets were introduced in 2020 on an experimental basis, they were designed to create safer and more pleasant environments outside schools and help social distancing during the pandemic.’’
