Fury as charity helper forced to pay £90

A volunteer who was collecting money for charity has had to cough up £90 after she was landed with a parking penalty.

The Dudley branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society has hit out at the firm which slapped the ticket on the volunteer's car.

The parking firm took the measure after the volunteer stopped for a few minutes to check on other disabled collectors. Patricia Jones displayed her blue disabled badge in the windscreen and believed she was exempt from paying when she left her caron the Townsend Place car park, Kingswinford.

The charity has appealed against the fine to Elite Parking Control, Bridgnorth, which issued the ticket. However, the firm says Mrs Jones should have paid to park.

Mrs Jones, of Sabrina Drive, Bewdley, has been volunteering for more than 20 years, insisted on paying the fine herself to save the charity the financial burden.

Her husband Andrew, who is vice-chairman of the society, said: "We were both very disgusted by the company's decision.

"Our plea to the company only deserved an unsigned mechanical letter of rejection. We consider this a most heartless decision."

And in an other case at the same car park a motorist was given a £90 penalty for not being in a parking bay.

James Billingham, who had parked for 10 minutes, has disputed the claims saying he was "well within" the lines of the space.

The 30-year-old, from Rookery Road, Wombourne, said: "I now have to pay this £90 within seven days.

"If I don't I will get a polite reminder and it goes up to £120, and this will go up to £211 to cover administration costs."

Elite Parking Control spokesman, Robert Smith, said Mrs Jones had been fined because disabled badge holders were required to pay to park at Townsend Place as it was a private car park.

He added there was "adequate signage" warning disabled drivers that they needed to purchase a ticket.

Mr Smith said: "The reason the penalty notice was issued to Mr Billingham is because half of his car was sticking out of the bay."

It costs 30p for the first hour, 80p for two hours and £1.20 for three hours to park at Townsend Place.