AN elderly driver has hit out at parking officials after being slapped with a £35 fine for parking in a designated disabled bay outside his own home.

Keith Hanton, 83, found a parking warden ticketing his on Hamilton Road in Parkeston on May 18.

Mr Hanton was informed that he was being ticketed because his disabled badge did not show the correct details.

After contacting the North Essex Parking Partnership he was told he had to pay the fine within 2 weeks, despite confirming his badge did not need to be renewed until November.

“After being told to write a letter to the Parking Partnership they said there was nothing I can do but pay the fine, even though another department explained my blue badge did not need renewing until November.

“Why can they not just liaise with each other? Now I will be forced to pay the fine within two weeks or it will double.”

A North Essex Parking Partnership spokesman said: “The NEPP enforces all parking and waiting restrictions across the Partnership, including on Blue Badge holder regulations, to help improve safety and ensure parking is available.

“As explained in the booklet provided, to use a Blue Badge the holder or their driver must ensure all details, including expiry date and serial number are displayed and legible. In this case these details were not legible and a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) was issued.

“We have advised Mr Hanton to contact Essex County Council, who administer Blue Badges, to re-ink the badge so it complies in future, and provide evidence of holding a valid Blue Badge at the time the PCN was issued so the NEPP can reconsider the case.”