'˜Unfair' parking fine for disabled pupils

A headteacher of disabled students has branded Arun District Council as '˜overzealous' for giving their school minibus a parking ticket during a trip.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Dec 2016, 19:25 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 18:47 BST
The minibus for the Lavinia Norfolk Centre, part of The Angmering School which teaches children with disabilites, was fined for parking over two spacesThe minibus for the Lavinia Norfolk Centre, part of The Angmering School which teaches children with disabilites, was fined for parking over two spaces
The minibus for the Lavinia Norfolk Centre, part of The Angmering School which teaches children with disabilites, was fined for parking over two spaces

Mark Andrews is in charge of the Lavinia Norfolk Centre in The Angmering School, which teaches around 50 students aged 11 to 19 with physical and learning disabilities.

A group of his pupils went on a minibus trip to Littlehampton seafront to visit a café and buy a hot drink as part of their life skills syllabus.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The driver parked in the Sea Road car park across two disabled bays, and was issued with a £25 parking ticket.

Mark Andrews, head of the Lavinia Norfolk Centre in The Angmering SchoolMark Andrews, head of the Lavinia Norfolk Centre in The Angmering School
Mark Andrews, head of the Lavinia Norfolk Centre in The Angmering School

Mr Andrews contested the fine but the appeal was initially rejected by the council, which said that they could have used a coach park in the area.

But Mr Andrews said the driver needed to park on the seafront to offload students because one pupil used a walking frame and could not walk very far.

Mr Andrews said: “I was quite annoyed. I feel like someone was overzealous in enforcing the rules.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We want to do as many trips as we possibly can to get the kids out and about, but when we get fines of £25 or £50 it does make it much harder.”

The disabled badge in the window of the minibusThe disabled badge in the window of the minibus
The disabled badge in the window of the minibus

After the Gazette contacted council leader Gillian Brown about the issue, the parking ticket was waived.

Mrs Brown said she was ‘pleased that it has been resolved’.

In a letter to Mr Andrews, Nigel Lynn, chief executive of the council, said that the fine had been issued correctly because there was room at the front of the first bay for the vehicle to move forward so that all four wheels would have been within it.

He added: “In view of the circumstances the Parking Services Manager has agreed not to pursue the fine and has accordingly written off the penalty charge.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics:Arun District CouncilNigel LynnFacebook