LINE IN THE SAND
Moment council worker rams into woman trying to stop him painting double-yellow lines outside her home in furious row
Watch how the council worker responded to the homeowner's fury
THIS is the shocking moment a council worker rammed into a furious homeowner who was protesting over double yellow lines outside her home.
Monika D'Agate had her foot squashed six times by the machine after she tried to stop the staff member outside her home in Belvedere, southeast London.
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Monika, who has lived in the exclusive neighbourhood for 32 years, said she felt she was living in a "dictatorship" after her petition against the lines was "completely ignored" by Bexley Council.
She was caught on CCTV footage standing in front of the contractor's machine and challenging him.
But the worker, donning a hi-viz jacket, is seen ramming into the mum-of-one's foot before she eventually relents and steps aside.
She claims the council only informed a few neighbours and put one sign up about the lines on a lamppost.
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"The council hadn't told any neighbours about [the lines] other than three people," Monika said.
"The only people who knew were the ones who I told about it.
"It was only when I had an email from the council stating they were going to paint the lines that I [decided] I had to take action.
"[The council] are lying. Putting a little note on a lamppost is not informing residents - no one knew about it.
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"I printed a letter for neighbours and distributed it to inform people and propose a petition.
"Every neighbour I spoke to was fuming. I got 90 signatures and could've had more.
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"But [the council] completely ignored it and painted the lines anyway.
"I submitted the petition last Monday and only Baroness O'Neill [of Bexley OBE, member of the House of Lords] acknowledged it.
"By Thursday, they were there painting the lines in the middle of the day, when everyone's at work.
"I went in the road and said, 'I am peacefully protesting to stop you painting the lines'.
"The guy then started hitting me with the machine.
"Eventually I moved away because he was crushing my shoe. He then finished painting the lines.
"All of my neighbours are outraged that this has happened and that the council has gone against people's wishes.
"No other neighbours knew about it - they would have parked their cars to stop the lines being painted.
"We think we don't live in a democracy - we live in a dictatorship."
In a statement, Bexley Council labelled the "use of force" by the contractor as "unacceptable".
A spokesperson added: "We are addressing this matter directly with the contractor involved to ensure appropriate standards of behaviour are upheld."
Monika said the markings are unnecessary on a street that has never had any issues with parking, and that she was worried that neighbours would now find it harder to find a spot outside their own homes.
Her petition stated: "Many residents, including those with limited mobility, may face difficulty accessing their homes with restricted parking spaces.
"[There are] concerns for shift workers unable to find parking close to their home late at night in the early hours of the morning."
Monika is now urging the council to remove the double yellow lines and consult residents on any future plans for the road.
"People are not listened to at all, and the council does whatever it wants without actually informing people about its proposals," she said.
Monika also claimed she'd been told the proposals were to 'improve sight lines' in the road, although she believes the council is in fact creating 'a problem that does not exist'.
The Bexley Council spokesperson added: "These restrictions were introduced to improve road safety by reinforcing the Highway Code's requirements to keep junctions clear of parked vehicles, thereby enhancing visibility and access for all road users.
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"The proposal was advertised through legally required channels, including on-street notices and local press announcements.
"The lines are deliberately limited in length to minimise the impact on parking while addressing road safety concerns."
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