Drivers in UK city face fines for parking on their own driveway

Drivers in a UK city have been fined for parking on their OWN driveway. Drivers have been wrongly fined for parking on their own driveways after being "mistakenly charged" by "over-zealous" traffic cops amid the opening of a new arena.

A total of 159 tickets have been issued since the Co-op Live arena opened on April 20 in Manchester. Residents living nearby say they have been “incorrectly given parking tickets” which has created a “weeks long appeals backlog”.

Ancoats and Beswick councillor Alan Good told the Manchester Evening News: “We’ve only ever asked for one thing with the changes to the Eastlands parking scheme, and it’s to remember that the scheme exists to protect residents.

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“I’m beyond disappointed at how many problems have arisen from the introduction of the scheme and that residents have been left in the dark whilst challenging incorrectly issued tickets. We’ve asked questions about how the parking wardens have been trained and I’ve asked council managers for a plan on how they’re going to get on top of the situation.”

A Manchester City Council spokesperson said: "Through the Eastlands RPZ the council has worked to ensure that residents living in close proximity to the Co-op Live Arena and the Etihad will be able to park close to their home, whilst preventing out of area motorists creating logjams in the area during event nights.

"Engagement has taken place since March 2022, providing residents with information and updates on how they can apply for free permits, or how to apply for visitor or carer passes. All current information on the scheme is available on our website, at https://www.manchester.gov.uk/parking.

"During the opening weekend of Co-op Live there were 159 PCNs issued, 16 of which have been appealed. The Council can confirm when an appeal is made the case is frozen as is the 14-day early payment window. If a resident with a parking permit or a resident who is entitled to a resident parking permit has been issued with a PCN, the PCN will be cancelled if the resident appeals the PCN.

“The Council will support residents when applying for a permit, but we would remind people that it is their responsibility to ensure that they have applied for a permit, in order to avoid any future penalties being issued."