Romford residents fined for parking on own driveways

Residents in Romford are repeatedly receiving fines for parking on their own driveways. The situation has become so dire that a terminally ill woman, who has now passed away, had to walk to a nearby car park for a lift to the hospital for cancer treatment, as reported by Aftab Mahboob.

Mahboob himself spent a year disputing a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) issued for parking outside his home last June. Accessing his property requires driving through a bus lane adjacent to a bus stop. After five attempts, he successfully appealed a fine that had escalated to £145.

“It was a year of my life,” Mahboob commented, expressing frustration at the “inhuman” treatment. He emphasized the necessity of resolving the issue to prevent repeated fines for residents parking on their own drives. Mahboob explained, “I turn into my drive 30 metres from where I started to pull in. Havering Council’s approach felt patronising; they kept sending letters about the Highway Code.”

Mahboob was legally allowed to park this way. Parking adjudicator John Lane overturned the fine, citing an exemption in the local authority’s Traffic Management Order for property access.

Havering Council attributed the initial decision to a “difference of opinion” between its officer and the adjudicator. A spokesperson stated, “Our officer had to make a judgement on the reasonable length of bus lane to use. The adjudicator ruled in favour of the resident, and the council respects this outcome.”

Despite this, Mahboob remains outraged by the council’s treatment, calling it “immoral.” He believes the council owes an apology. “This is really wrong. I got a fine for parking on my own drive. I’ve lived here 16 years, but the camera was newly installed,” he said.

Mahboob emphasised that the camera placement seemed like a money-making scheme, affecting law-abiding citizens. He noted that people might pay fines out of fear of repercussions and lack the time to contest them. “People don’t have that time, and the council knows that,” he said.

Mahboob’s neighbour’s sister, aged 84, received a fine from the same camera and subsequently parked in a nearby car park, forcing her sister to walk to the car for cancer treatment. “You should be able to pick up a frail old woman,” Mahboob argued, criticising the council’s lack of compassion.

Another neighbour, an NHS dentist, also received a fine for driving in the bus lane. Mahboob pointed out that while some drivers speed on the road, the council focuses on fining residents for parking on their own driveways. “I’ve heard nothing back from the council. Not even an apology,” he stated, describing the situation as “disgusting” and “immoral.”

A council spokesperson responded, “The Council always aims to enforce parking and traffic rules fairly to ensure road safety and traffic flow. Enforcement acts as a deterrent to dangerous or illegal actions.”