Disabled woman fined for parking outside own home

Maria Teresa Rodriguez outside her home on Wellington Street

A disabled woman has said she has been fined dozens of times for parking outside her own home.

Maria Rodriguez, 76, claimed she was forced to park on a small strip of double yellow lines outside of her home in Wellington Street, Southport because there were no resident parking permits nor – after five years of requests – a disabled parking bay.

Sefton Council said the fines issued to Ms Rodriguez were in accordance with national enforcement guidelines around parking rules.

Ms Rodriguez said the rules were "too rigidly" applied and did not take into account her personal circumstances.

The LDRS understands the penalty charge notices which have been issued to Ms Rodriguez are due to incorrect displays of her blue badge and time card.

But she maintains she was told to place the blue badge on the side.

'Tired of all this'

A blue badge is a parking permit that allows people with disabilities to park closer to their destination than standard parking spaces.

Ms Rodriguez successfully applied for one and uses it everyday but said when she returns to her home to try and find a parking space she is forced to park away from her house because of the lack of a disabled parking bay.

"I’m just tired of all this because I keep getting £70 fines for parking outside my own house," she added.

“I have lived here for 23 years and I remember the day that this [parking situation] changed."

Ms Rodriguez is registered as having a disability and has mobility issues which impacts her independence and ability to move around.

Without resident or disabled bay parking, she said her life had become a daily battle.

"If people had someone in their family, they would probably understand and they could make their voice heard louder than mine because I live alone and it’s difficult to get people to listen," she added.

A Sefton Council spokesperson said: “There are a number of nationally set rules and responsibilities that must be adhered to when using a blue badge.

“One of those rules states that all blue badge holders must ensure their badges or time clocks are displayed correctly and made visible in the vehicle they are using, regardless where they park.

"If this is not done - then a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) may be issued.”