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Victim of parking war
• I HAVE sympathy with Fiona Hayes (My parking fine cast shadow over street’s pear tree harvest, October 23). Islington Parking Services gave two days notice of parking suspension outside my house for water main repairs. I went away on business the day before the suspension signs went up and returned the day after work started to find two tickets on my windscreen.
I phoned the parking services “hotline” and, after following a trail of voicemail messages, I eventually spoke to a representative of Parking Services who confirmed the notices went up just two days before the suspension.
She admitted that this was very short notice and offered to cancel the tickets. I asked her to confirm the tickets would be cancelled by email, which she promised to do that day. After several reminder calls and follow-up mails I received an email confirming cancellation the following week. No explanation for the short notice was given and no apology was offered.
My partner pointed out that Thames Water had written two weeks previously giving notice of disruption to water supply, so this was hardly an emergency repair. I can’t believe that Thames Water would inform residents but not the council, so the short notice and the willingness to suspend my tickets can only be explained by ineptitude.
I agree with Ms Hayes that parking services are run as a money-making vehicle for the council (and the company that runs them on behalf of the council), not as a service to residents.
My story is mild compared to other Islington parking war stories I have heard, including that of Ms Hayes, but I am writing in support and join her in reminding our councillors they are accountable to voters.
George Dooley
Hemingford Road, N1
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