Sunderland man's parking ticket anger

Resident Stuart Jobling was issued a parking ticket outside his own front door.

Stuart Jobling was stunned to receive a ticket from Sunderland City Council after he left his works van outside his home in Millfield.

Mr Jobling, 42, was forced to park the vehicle on the road in Willmore Street, after an inconsiderate driver blocked access to his off-street parking.

The car that was blocking access to Stuart Jobling's back yard in Millfield.

The road is part of the permit scheme applicable to an area around Sunderland Royal Hospital. As a result, a permit is required to park there between the hours of 10-11am and 2-3pm.

But because Mr Jobling only has a permit for his family car but not his van, he received a ticket at 2.30pm on June 7.

Mr Jobling - a self-employed portable appliance tester who lives with partner Jill Gleghorn, 32, a carer, and three children, - said: “I always park my works van in the rear yard.

“We have a permit for the other car, but we don’t feel the need to pay for a second permit because we have off-street parking.

“On this occasion I couldn’t park it off the street.

“I took photos of the vehicle that was causing the obstruction and I got a reply saying they are upholding the parking ticket, because you are supposed to have a permit.”

He added: “We are angry, it’s the fact that they didn’t take anything into consideration. Someone was blocking my access.”

Portfolio holder for City Services, Coun Michael Mordey, said: “Every motorist who does not agree with an appeal decision against a penalty charge notice, is automatically invited to take the appeal process to the next stage to have it re-considered if they so wish.

“Mr Jobling is more than welcome to exercise that right.”