Driver says he was hit with £65 fine for parking his Ford estate in disabled bay – because the car’s SHADOW fell into the spot

• Matthew Cole got the ticket after he left the car outside a post office in London
• Photos by council show Ford parked in a bay which Mr Cole says was unmarked 
• A shadow from his car appears on a marked disabled spot that has a white frame
• Lewisham council said there is a sign saying for ‘disabled badge holders only’ 

A driver has claimed he was hit with a parking fine of £65 because his car’s shadow was falling onto a disabled bay. 

Matthew Cole was left fuming after he was sent photos by the council alleging he parked illegally outside a London post office. 

The pictures show Mr Cole’s silver Ford estate car parked in a bay which he says was unmarked as a disabled spot. But a shadow does appear on a marked disabled spot that is bordered by a white frame. 

Mr Cole told MyLondon that being fined over a shadow is ‘absurd’ but Lewisham council argues there is a sign saying for ‘disabled badge holders only’ visible.

A driver has claimed he was hit with a fine of £65 because his car’s shadow was falling onto a disabled bay (pictured the shadow and parking space with line marked in red)

Mr Cole said: ‘It’s absurd. There’s no signage where I parked and the photos they sent me only show the shadow of my car in the disabled spot.

‘I was taking my daughter to a football match on the heath and had parked there before without problem. 

‘Having not got a ticket at the other times, I personally don’t think I should have got a ticket this time.’

He also said the fine which could jump to £130 if he does not pay within a certain timeframe is ‘wrong’ and a lot of money for people to pay. 

Mr Cole appealed the fine saying there was no sign saying it was for disabled parking only outside Blackheath Post Office but Lewisham council reject his appeal.

The pictures show Mr Cole’s silver Ford estate car parked in a bay which he says was unmarked as a disabled spot. But a shadow does appear on a marked disabled spot that is bordered by a white frame

Mr Cole claims the council ‘ignored’ his email where he explained what happened and claimed it was ‘hard’ to get in contact with them.  

He said he still will not pay the fine and has appealed to the local authority a second time. 

A Lewisham Council spokesperson said: ‘We issued a Penalty Charge Notice [PCN] to Mr Cole on 26 March for parking in a disabled bay, which was marked with a ‘Disabled badge holders only’ sign.

‘Mr Cole’s initial challenge of this PCN was rejected as he didn’t give a reason for challenging it.

‘He has since outlined reasons for challenging the fine, which we are looking into in line with legal processes.

‘We will be letting Mr Cole know the outcome in due course.’

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