05 March 2024 , 12:27
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A disabled veteran says he is furious after being fined for parking outside his own home.
Mark Johannsen, who is 62 and used to be in the SAS, says he's being treated unfairly by "functional jobsworths at their worst". He said he was still in the process of getting a parking permit for his street in Nottingham when he was slapped with three fixed penalty notices, but thought "common sense would prevail".
"I have got friends who were killed, it doesn't seem right when you're disabled and served your country," he said. Nottingham City Council said Mr Johannsen's original application was lacking in vital details, and said this was not fixed until months later despite repeated attempts to contact him.
Mark Johannsen, 62, pictured alongside his car at home in St Ann's, Nottingham (Joseph Raynor/Nottingham Post)Mark, who has trouble walking, moved into Albany House in Pym Street, St Ann's last November. "I moved in and immediately applied for resident parking," he explained. Mark had some trouble with his insurance, so getting the parking permit took longer. The council told him not to park his Range Rover until everything was sorted out, reports Nottinghamshire Live. He finally got his permit on February 5.
But Mark said he had no other place to park nearby. "It's ridiculous, it's functional jobsworths at their worst. There's nowhere else within walking distance," he complained. "There's no free parking, it's either double yellow lines or resident parking. Common sense would say you're outside your home so it's okay, I thought common sense would prevail. I've done nothing wrong."
London flat for rent for £1,400 a month with bed tucked away in kitchen cupboard
Mr Johannsen, who hails from Colchester, mentioned he had no plans of paying the £70 fines. Despite his initial appeal being denied, he said that he intends to pursue the matter even further.