Dropped kerb made a £25 hole in my bank balance

BEWARE all motorists who try to park in for 30 minutes or less on Tamworth Street, below Greenhill.

On Sunday, May 31, I parked there for 21 minutes. On my return, I found a penalty charge notice on my windscreen.

Not for time violation, but for parking alongside a dropped kerb.

Like thousands of motorists over the years, I park there for a quick visit to the bank or a specific shop.

To find a space you have to be fortunate, because they are usually full, including the spaces adjacent to these dropped kerbs.

There are two: one outside the Chinese takeaway toward the top, and the other adjacent to the double doors of the late 'Perdies Curio Shop'.

I have never seen these used for the purpose they were originally put there for.

There are no signs telling you not to park. On the road, there are broken white lines in which to park your vehicle between them and the pavement.

These are continuous from top to bottom of Tamworth Street between the double yellow lines.

They are not there for disabled persons' vehicles as there is no dropped kerb on the opposite side of the road.

I decided to dispute this penalty, but failed, because by the letter of the law I am guilty.

So thank you to Enforcement Officer 007, who obviously does not believe in the unwritten law of common sense. I am £25 poorer.

Also many thanks to Lichfield District Council for abdicating their responsibilities and passing them on to a glorified law enforcement agency based in Stoke-on-Trent.

The final irony; I received my letter on Lichfield District Council paper on which was a contact number.

Who answered the phone? Surprise, surprise, a man in Stoke-on-Trent.

A very disillusioned resident.