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Julie Nice tried to argue her case with wardens, but to no avail |
Fury at ‘heartless’ clamping of MS sufferer’s car by private firm
Ticket issued despite disabled parking permit being just two days out of date
HARD-hearted parking wardens in Islington clamped a car belonging to a woman with multiple sclerosis because her permit was a few days out of date.
Living on income support, Julie Nice had no money to pay the £147 fine, so each day the fine increased by a further £30.
In desperation her 88-year-old mother from Camden had to take three buses to Holloway in order to pay the charge.
Neighbours in Porter Square witnessed the clampers – from a private company employed by Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association – in action on Saturday.
They appealed to the clampers and explained Julie’s circumstances, but to no avail.
Julie said: “My neighbours were wonderful.
“They told the clampers: ‘You can’t clamp that vehicle – it’s a disability car.’ They knocked on my door and I also went out to plead with the men.
“They said the only way I was getting the clamp off was by paying the fine.”
Julie, 47, who has a special parking bay, was clamped because her disabled blue badge was out of date by two days.
The housing association said they had sent letters out telling disabled residents to renew their permits, but Julie says she never received one.
“They said it was my fault for not checking that my permit was still in date,” she explained.
Her mother, Iris Hansford, a retired private caretaker, said: “I was so angry.
“This was a heartless thing to do to a woman who is seriously disabled.
“I had to go and pay, despite the long journey, because each day the clamp was in place the fine went up.”
Clare Thomson, chief executive of Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association, said: “I am sorry that our resident has been clamped.
“Every resident is responsible for ensuring that permits are valid. Our records show that a vehicle with a disabled permit badge was clamped.
“The permit expired on July 31 2009.
“In this instance, as a gesture of goodwill the Senior Tenancy Services Manager agreed to waive the additional £60 overnight clamping fees.
“To assist in avoiding this, three letters are sent to residents to remind them to renew their permit.”
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