Parking fines fury for Oldbury church-goers at mass

And those at the church in Oldbury say they are mystified as to why the fines have been issued, as the church-goers have been parking there for more than eight years.

The fines were issued to eight cars, including those with blue disability badges, by wardens yesterday while the drivers were at morning mass at Our Lady and St Hubert's Catholic Church on the junction of Wolverhampton Road and Bleakhouse Road.

The cars were parked on a patch of pavement off Bleakhouse Road, where parish priest Father Peter Blundell said they have been parked for years. He said: "They've been parking on that piece of pavement for at least eight years, which is as long as I've been here."

He said the only reason he can think that they have now been ticketed is because the road markings have been changed from yellow to a red route within the past month. He claimed there had been no consultation with the church over the changes to the markings.

Furious pensioners, some of them in wheelchairs, pleaded for 30 minutes to have the penalty charges overturned but were refused. One of those hit with a fine was Mary Docker, 59.

The former Blackheath councillor and blue badge holder, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, claimed the church had been granted special dispensation for disabled parking outside.

She said: "When I arrived with my two young grandchildren there were two officers waiting to dish out tickets. I told them that the church had special dispensation for disabled parking and suggested that they take photographs of the cars and check with their manager. But when I came out there was a ticket on my car.

"It's so unfair and mean, I can't walk any great distance and I worry that I might not be able to continue attending the church where I've been going for many years."

Councillor Maria Crompton, Sandwell Council cabinet member for highways and the environment, said the matter would be investigated and disputed tickets could be appealed.

She said: "Parking regulations do state that where red lines have been painted on the road the traffic regulations include the footpath.

"Parking on footpaths causes other obstructions for pedestrians which are quite dangerous.

"There is an appeals process which allows drivers to state their case and each one will be considered on its own merits.