AN 85-year-old man from Wellington has hit out at parking officials, claiming they are “ripping off” disabled drivers confused by unclear road markings.

Don Smith, who himself has a disability that requires him to take advantage of disabled parking, was fined for parking his car in East Street, Taunton.

Mr Smith appealed the fine to Somerset County Council but was refused and has since paid his debt, but said he feels other people could be caught out by road markings that he feels aren’t clear enough.

The council says it will review markings in the area.

Mr Smith said: “On my way back to my car when I saw the notice, a lady stopped me and said that her disabled daughter had also been caught out by these road markings. They’re making money off disabled people by neglecting to have the markings clear.

“I want to know what happens to the money from the fines, and if it goes back into improving the road markings so things like this don’t happen again.

“The double yellow lines are clear, but you’re meant to be able to see the kerb markings from your car.”

Single kerb markings mean that a disabled driver can park on roads with double and single yellow lines at certain times, as specified on the adjacent signs. If a driver is parking outside of the specified times they will receive a parking fine.

Somerset County Gazette:

The kerb markings on East Street that Mr Smith says he could not see clearly from his car. 

Mr Smith also struggled to pay his fine online, as the details issued to him about his car were wrong. The fine stated that his car was silver, when Mr Smith said that his car is officially coloured gunmetal.

His appeal was refused as the council said the road markings were sufficiently clear. A ‘ no loading’ sign on East Street states that there are parking restrictions between 8.15-9.15am, 12.30-2.15pm, and 4.45-6pm, Mr Smith was parking at 1.40pm.

A council spokesman has since said they were not aware of the issue, and will investigate the markings.

“We were not aware that there was an issue with the road markings on East Street in Taunton,” he said. “We will send out an investigator to review the markings and make arrangements for the markings to be updated if necessary.

“We welcome people to notify us online if they do spot a road defect or pothole at somerset.gov.uk/reportapothole.”