Boss elated after parking row victory

A Shropshire estate agents boss who took legal action against ParkRight after they accused his firm of committing fraud by photocopying permits is toasting victory.

David Whittle, who runs Homesbury Estate Agents in Shoplatch, Shrewsbury, took his case all the way to a tribunal but Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council, which runs the parking agency, has dropped its claim against him.

The businessman is now encouraging other motorists who have been slapped with tickets to "call the council's bluff" by taking action through the courts.

An elated Mr Whittle has now received a letter from the Traffic Penalty Tribunal informing him that his appeal has been successful.

The row started after Mr Whittle's business partner Christine Jones was given a parking ticket in the town's Tannery car park on August 28 last year despite claiming the vehicle was parked legitimately and displaying a valid permit. ParkRight maintained the firm had breached the rules as the permit was a photocopy.

A letter sent on behalf of tribunal adjudicator Caroline Sheppard, says Mr Whittle's appeal was allowed on the grounds the council did not contest it. But it says SABC still insists that he cannot rely on the photocopy as a valid permit in the future.

Sue Taylor, ParkRight senior appeals officer, said sometimes disputes can be settled without the need for a tribunal hearing "and in this case after taking everything into consideration it was decided not to proceed to adjudication".