‘Cowards’ back down over parking farce (From Echo)

she should never have been given the tickets in the first place! when are these traffic wardens gonna have respect for there eders?!

Frankly, I'm more concerned that a 90-year old 'in very poor health' and recovering from a broken leg is driving a car on busy roads around Leigh...

Shall we get this into perspective? The lady in question should or should not be driving - that really is a matter for her doctor to decide! The facts are that she didn't display her disabled badge properly and got 2 tickets for that - you can argue the semantics of whether they should have been given but she didn't totally comply with the rules.
An element of sensationalism has crept in to this as no way would she ever be imprisoned for non payment of the fines.

This.

gordonbennet wrote:
Frankly, I'm more concerned that a 90-year old 'in very poor health' and recovering from a broken leg is driving a car on busy roads around Leigh...

Bah, stupid website left out the quote from my last post :(

The two traffic wardens who stood laughing at her should be named and shamed then fired.

This should cause a stir from the comments on the original atricle concerning this.
So all those that think she deserved the ticket because she broke the rules. If these rules were abiding, why did the council back down, because of the echo? I think not. They were just trying their luck to see what they could get away with it and this is the outcome.
I'm glad she didn't back down and seeked the help she needed. I think most people who think she deserved it are just bitter that the disabled can park for free in certain areas, spoilt bratts in other words who can't stand the thought that someone gets something they can't have. I can promise you this, they would pay to park if it meant they didn't have to be disabled!
Yet more money southend council has wasted, they should all get the sack!

perini wrote:
Shall we get this into perspective? The lady in question should or should not be driving - that really is a matter for her doctor to decide! The facts are that she didn't display her disabled badge properly and got 2 tickets for that - you can argue the semantics of whether they should have been given but she didn't totally comply with the rules.
An element of sensationalism has crept in to this as no way would she ever be imprisoned for non payment of the fines.

I'm not so sure about that, i remember an article for an elderly man being imprisoned for non council tax payment, granted, slightly different to a parking fine, but same circumstances! You can't put anything past a council nowadays, they are out of control.

LOL - so much for the rules are rules brigade. There are too many people who unquestioningly follow rules assuming wrongly that it is the law.

gordonbennet wrote:
Frankly, I'm more concerned that a 90-year old 'in very poor health' and recovering from a broken leg is driving a car on busy roads around Leigh...

The driving skills of this remarkable lady are probably a **** sight better than most drivers.

Alice in Her Own Land :P wrote:

gordonbennet wrote: Frankly, I'm more concerned that a 90-year old 'in very poor health' and recovering from a broken leg is driving a car on busy roads around Leigh...

The driving skills of this remarkable lady are probably a **** sight better than most drivers.

Thanks for the reassurance - I feel much better for that and I wish her many more years of happy, incident-free motoring. Maybe now the Echo's editorial team could have a whip-round and buy her a proper windscreen holder for her pass to avoid any further incidents.

OK people, listen up. If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of getting a parking ticket, regardless of any evidence supporting it's rightful issue, just go to the Evening echo with your plight. They will get you off. No question. That is unless you are under 75 years old or completely able bodied...then you've got no chance (the echo won't even run with your story).
Irene Reynolds did get one thing right, Derek Kenyon and the council are downright cowards to have given in to this lady (and the Echo), especially as it is quite probable they had this lady bang to rights in the first place. I also think that the Echo are a disgrace for even supporting Irene Reynolds who, in my opinion, should grow up and act like a respectable 90 year old and not a spoiled schoolchild. Irene Reynolds needs to consider herself a very, very lucky lady today.

emcee wrote:
OK people, listen up. If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of getting a parking ticket, regardless of any evidence supporting it's rightful issue, just go to the Evening echo with your plight. They will get you off. No question. That is unless you are under 75 years old or completely able bodied...then you've got no chance (the echo won't even run with your story).
Irene Reynolds did get one thing right, Derek Kenyon and the council are downright cowards to have given in to this lady (and the Echo), especially as it is quite probable they had this lady bang to rights in the first place. I also think that the Echo are a disgrace for even supporting Irene Reynolds who, in my opinion, should grow up and act like a respectable 90 year old and not a spoiled schoolchild. Irene Reynolds needs to consider herself a very, very lucky lady today.

How rediculous!
You expect everyone to beleive that the evening echo has this influence over the council, utter rubbish. The coucil backed down because they thought they could make up whatever rules and stories they like, and they can't. This women wasn't lucky, she just didn't give in to the council. Oh, the comments about being abled bodied and having to pay parking tickets is a cheek as well. No one asks to be disabled, you should count your blessings that you're not disabled! It's hell, they are victimised in the work place, on the street and now the you and the council think you can have a go as well. Either way, i'm sure you're perfect and we can only be so lucky to be like you!
SHAME ON YOU!!!!

Balexan wrote:

emcee wrote:
OK people, listen up. If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of getting a parking ticket, regardless of any evidence supporting it's rightful issue, just go to the Evening echo with your plight. They will get you off. No question. That is unless you are under 75 years old or completely able bodied...then you've got no chance (the echo won't even run with your story).
Irene Reynolds did get one thing right, Derek Kenyon and the council are downright cowards to have given in to this lady (and the Echo), especially as it is quite probable they had this lady bang to rights in the first place. I also think that the Echo are a disgrace for even supporting Irene Reynolds who, in my opinion, should grow up and act like a respectable 90 year old and not a spoiled schoolchild. Irene Reynolds needs to consider herself a very, very lucky lady today.

How rediculous!
You expect everyone to beleive that the evening echo has this influence over the council, utter rubbish. The coucil backed down because they thought they could make up whatever rules and stories they like, and they can't. This women wasn't lucky, she just didn't give in to the council. Oh, the comments about being abled bodied and having to pay parking tickets is a cheek as well. No one asks to be disabled, you should count your blessings that you're not disabled! It's hell, they are victimised in the work place, on the street and now the you and the council think you can have a go as well. Either way, i'm sure you're perfect and we can only be so lucky to be like you!
SHAME ON YOU!!!!

No shame, just pointing out the obvious role the Echo has played, by it's own admission (read the report again) and the cowardly acts of the council and it's parking managers who could not even stand up for themselves against a little old lady. You also seem to think I am attacking the disabled. Please tell me where I have attacked the disabled. Before you do, however, I think you ought to read my comments again, only this time please try to understand the context before spouting your rightous nonsense.

z0mbee wrote:
This.

Great comment.

emcee wrote:

Balexan wrote:

emcee wrote:
OK people, listen up. If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of getting a parking ticket, regardless of any evidence supporting it's rightful issue, just go to the Evening echo with your plight. They will get you off. No question. That is unless you are under 75 years old or completely able bodied...then you've got no chance (the echo won't even run with your story).
Irene Reynolds did get one thing right, Derek Kenyon and the council are downright cowards to have given in to this lady (and the Echo), especially as it is quite probable they had this lady bang to rights in the first place. I also think that the Echo are a disgrace for even supporting Irene Reynolds who, in my opinion, should grow up and act like a respectable 90 year old and not a spoiled schoolchild. Irene Reynolds needs to consider herself a very, very lucky lady today.

How rediculous!
You expect everyone to beleive that the evening echo has this influence over the council, utter rubbish. The coucil backed down because they thought they could make up whatever rules and stories they like, and they can't. This women wasn't lucky, she just didn't give in to the council. Oh, the comments about being abled bodied and having to pay parking tickets is a cheek as well. No one asks to be disabled, you should count your blessings that you're not disabled! It's hell, they are victimised in the work place, on the street and now the you and the council think you can have a go as well. Either way, i'm sure you're perfect and we can only be so lucky to be like you!
SHAME ON YOU!!!!

No shame, just pointing out the obvious role the Echo has played, by it's own admission (read the report again) and the cowardly acts of the council and it's parking managers who could not even stand up for themselves against a little old lady. You also seem to think I am attacking the disabled. Please tell me where I have attacked the disabled. Before you do, however, I think you ought to read my comments again, only this time please try to understand the context before spouting your rightous nonsense.

"Despite appealing against the tickets, Southend Council officials had refused to back down. However, after we intervened, officials looked again at the case and changed their minds"

and

"Derek Kenyon, the council’s parking manager, said: “We have considered this case very carefully, and on this occasion we will be cancelling these penalty charge notices"

This is what is says, nothing about the echo infuencing their decision, nothing about a gesture of good will. Where in the article does it say they helped because she is elderly and disabled, no where! The context you're referring to doesn't even exist in the article. You have related it to your own personal beliefs and assumptions, not facts

emcee wrote:
OK people, listen up. If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of getting a parking ticket, regardless of any evidence supporting it's rightful issue, just go to the Evening echo with your plight. They will get you off. No question. That is unless you are under 75 years old or completely able bodied...then you've got no chance (the echo won't even run with your story). Irene Reynolds did get one thing right, Derek Kenyon and the council are downright cowards to have given in to this lady (and the Echo), especially as it is quite probable they had this lady bang to rights in the first place. I also think that the Echo are a disgrace for even supporting Irene Reynolds who, in my opinion, should grow up and act like a respectable 90 year old and not a spoiled schoolchild. Irene Reynolds needs to consider herself a very, very lucky lady today.

I am stunned that you still do not understand this. Bang to rights? - She had a valid permit! The reason the council backed down is because the court would have throw it out - its nothing to do with the echo.

For the benefit of all rule followers out there, the law says that a valid permit is required for parking in certain places. The law does not say that this permit must be displayed at all times in the windscreen with all parts visable - that is council rule and is subject to the normal legal caveat of having to be reasonable. The "fines" levied by councils for failure to properly display are basically administration charges for starting and stopping the legal procedure (a nice little earner). In this case the woman was present just after the warden had issued the ticket and i'm sure would have taken the permit from the windscreen to let the warden read it. At that point there is no reason why the ticket cannot be simply cancelled. No parking offence has been committied and the council has not incurred any cost.

For goodness sake.............doe
sn;t anyone on here have anything important to worry about?? Judging by the volume of comments I would suggest not!

how big was the mars bar that blocked the badge? sounds like it belonged to dom jolly with his big telly phone !?

When they issued these tickets, did the wardens know the age and sex of the driver ?

Or does the card in the car have a photo ?

I am more concerned at the fact they were laughing about giving such an elderly person two parking tickets. That is anti-social behaviour and typical of today's attitude to the elderly. One day they will be elderly and I hope if people laugh at their ill health they will remember that they were guilty of it.

Balexan wrote:

emcee wrote:

Balexan wrote:

emcee wrote:
OK people, listen up. If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of getting a parking ticket, regardless of any evidence supporting it's rightful issue, just go to the Evening echo with your plight. They will get you off. No question. That is unless you are under 75 years old or completely able bodied...then you've got no chance (the echo won't even run with your story).
Irene Reynolds did get one thing right, Derek Kenyon and the council are downright cowards to have given in to this lady (and the Echo), especially as it is quite probable they had this lady bang to rights in the first place. I also think that the Echo are a disgrace for even supporting Irene Reynolds who, in my opinion, should grow up and act like a respectable 90 year old and not a spoiled schoolchild. Irene Reynolds needs to consider herself a very, very lucky lady today.

How rediculous!
You expect everyone to beleive that the evening echo has this influence over the council, utter rubbish. The coucil backed down because they thought they could make up whatever rules and stories they like, and they can't. This women wasn't lucky, she just didn't give in to the council. Oh, the comments about being abled bodied and having to pay parking tickets is a cheek as well. No one asks to be disabled, you should count your blessings that you're not disabled! It's hell, they are victimised in the work place, on the street and now the you and the council think you can have a go as well. Either way, i'm sure you're perfect and we can only be so lucky to be like you!
SHAME ON YOU!!!!

No shame, just pointing out the obvious role the Echo has played, by it's own admission (read the report again) and the cowardly acts of the council and it's parking managers who could not even stand up for themselves against a little old lady. You also seem to think I am attacking the disabled. Please tell me where I have attacked the disabled. Before you do, however, I think you ought to read my comments again, only this time please try to understand the context before spouting your rightous nonsense.

"Despite appealing against the tickets, Southend Council officials had refused to back down. However, after we intervened, officials looked again at the case and changed their minds"

and

"Derek Kenyon, the council’s parking manager, said: “We have considered this case very carefully, and on this occasion we will be cancelling these penalty charge notices"

This is what is says, nothing about the echo infuencing their decision, nothing about a gesture of good will. Where in the article does it say they helped because she is elderly and disabled, no where! The context you're referring to doesn't even exist in the article. You have related it to your own personal beliefs and assumptions, not facts

Oh dear. Well my only assumption at the moment is you have trouble understanding context and have a distinct failure of understanding the difference between the word "fact" and the word "delusion". Again, I suggest you read, nay study, all the Echo's writings on this issue as well as all my comments. You never know, something may actually begin to register. I really hope you never have to sit on a jury.

z0mbee wrote:
This.

Very droll lmao!

It must be slow news day . . . .

Once again our wonderful local rag champions a worthy cause! lol.

I must remember that next time I get a 'ticket for covering my pay and display ticket with a glove or Mars Bar to write to the Echo so that they can get the ticket cancelled on my behalf.

The old girl was in the wrong, name calling Parking Wardens and Council Officials is also wrong.

Lets hope that next time she goes out for a drive she remembers not to cover her Disabled Parking Permit with a bag of Murray Mints or Hanky!! :-)

The traffic wardens would not know the age of the driver. They could just see a disabled parking badge that was not properly displayed. They may not have been able to see enough details to verify that it was valid, in which case they were right to issue a ticket. Some people misuse such badges and will try any trick. It is wrong to criticise the wardens for doing their job.

The council however, should have used some discretion once they knew the circumstances. If it makes sense to drop the case after the echo featured it, then it also made sense before.

For a start, Traffic Wardens SHOULD start booking motorists who park in Disabled Bays and are NOT disabled at all.

Alekhine wrote:
LOL - so much for the rules are rules brigade. There are too many people who unquestioningly follow rules assuming wrongly that it is the law.

As Douglas Bader so eloquently put it
~
"Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the blind obedience of fools"
~
Unfortunately for us the local Council and it's contractors only employ fools ..

Hell that is the last time I will get in her Taxi I did not know she was that old.

maybe i will not need a solliciter for my next crime, just use the echo seeing as they are so great. the old bat deserved the fines

'eats mars bar whilst everyone else is arguing!'

very rude and wrong headline this is out of order and silly by the echo who ever.

the woman words are wrong and should not have been printed