A Dundee pensioner has hit out at Dundee city council, claiming her car was one of dozens hit with parking tickets during a children’s dance performance.
Pamela Leggeat went to the Dance Zone show at the Whitehall Theatre on Saturday evening with her daughter and seven-year-old granddaughter, who was performing on stage.
With no parking at the venue, she chose to leave her car on the grass verge because she was worried about safety following an alleged sexual assault on nearby West Henderson’s Wynd.
She was furious when she left the show and discovered parking wardens had swooped on the area while the family was inside and dished out a string of £60 fines.
She reckons more than 70 vehicles suffered a similar fate and believes wardens should have shown more restraint.
Pamela said: “This isn’t even about the money, we will pay the fine.
“I just find it appalling that Dundee City Council has slapped 70 parking tickets at a place where none of the other buildings were in use over the weekend, the cars weren’t causing an obstruction and weren’t on double yellow lines.
“Where were all these people supposed to park?
“Given that there was a sexual assault near the area recently, many people were worried.”
She said the issue of safety was high in the minds of many of the people she spoke to at the concert.
“Some of the mums were on their own with their kids and they didn’t want to park on quiet side streets and have to walk in the dark,” she said.
“The last show finished at 8pm, which is around the time that assault took place.
“If something similar had happened, would the council have taken responsibility? I don’t think so.
“It’s just coming up to Christmas and having to pay fines is the last thing people need.”
A Dundee City Council spokesperson said: “Anyone who feels they have been ticketed in error has the right to appeal.
“The appeals process is detailed on the penalty charge notice and on the councils website at: www.dundeecity.gov.uk/service-area/city-development/penalty-charge-notices.”
