A 76-year-old disabled woman claims she has been fined multiple times for parking outside her home.

Maria Rodriguez, who lives on Wellington Street in Southport, says she was forced to park on a small section of double yellow lines outside her home due to the lack of resident parking permits and the absence of a disabled parking bay, despite five years of requests.

Sefton Council confirmed that the fines issued to Ms Rodriguez were in line with national parking enforcement guidelines. However, Ms Rodriguez argues that these rules have been applied too rigidly and fail to consider her personal circumstances.

It is understood that the penalty charge notices were issued due to incorrect display of Ms Rodriguez’s blue badge and time card. She maintains that she was instructed to place the badge in a specific position.

Struggles with Parking

A blue badge allows individuals with disabilities to park closer to their destination. Ms Rodriguez successfully applied for one and uses it daily. However, she claims that finding a suitable parking space near her home is a constant challenge, as there is no designated disabled parking bay available.

“I’m just tired of all this,” she said. “I keep receiving £70 fines for parking outside my own house. I’ve lived here for 23 years and remember when the parking situation changed.”

Ms Rodriguez, who is registered as disabled and has mobility issues, says the lack of appropriate parking has made daily life increasingly difficult. She expressed frustration, stating: “If people had a disabled family member, they would probably understand and make their voices heard. I live alone, and it’s hard to get anyone to listen.”

Council Response

A spokesperson for Sefton Council stated: “There are nationally set rules and responsibilities that all blue badge holders must follow. One key requirement is that blue badges and time clocks must be correctly displayed and visible in the vehicle. Failure to do so may result in a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) being issued.”