Appealing triplets who lost their appeal (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Appealing triplets who lost their appeal

8:30am Thursday 6th November 2008

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By Charlie Crabtree »

THE parents of baby triplets have lost their appeal against a parking ticket given when they were 10 minutes late due to being constantly stopped by people admiring their babies.

Sarah Readings, 29, of Franche Road, Kidderminster, explained she and husband, Kirk, were given the ticket as the result of a “rare” trip to town with their eight-month-old babies to celebrate their first wedding anniversary.

She said she knew they were in the wrong but there were unusual circumstances and that it was difficult to use facilities in the town centre, like toilets, with a triple buggy.

Mrs Readings added: “When people see triplets every man and his dog wants to stop and look. Everyone comes up to you. You can’t move.”

She explained that money was tight and they relied almost entirely on her husband’s salary to make ends meet.

She said: “I think it is a sad world if they can’t give us 10 minutes’ grace.They should have a bit of compassion towards our situation.”

Mr Readings, a sales representative for a beer company, added: “We know we were late. We are just upset that they won’t come around and recognise that there were unusual circumstances.

“Hands up, we were in the wrong. However, can Wyre Forest District Council please acknowledge the difficulties of using a three-baby buggy in Kidderminster?”

The ticket was received at the Weavers Wharf car park on Saturday, October 25. Mr Readings said the civil enforcement officer had felt guilty when he saw their babies and had advised them to appeal.

The couple face a reduced charge of £25 if they pay within 14 days or the original charge of £50 if payment is not received within that time.

Andrew Dickens, the district council’s head of property and operational services, justified the council’s position.

He said: “We’re sorry that this family feel they have been treated unfairly but the parking rules are there for everyone.

“The appeals process is managed fairly to a predetermined set of standards approved by council and, on this occasion, the explanation of the reasons for appealing didn’t fall into the predetermined criteria and, therefore, was not allowed.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE READINGS' PARKING FINE? FILL IN THE BOX BELOW TO COMMENT OR CLICK HERE TO EMAIL THE EDITOR.

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Your Say Your Wyre Forest

English-Highlander, Stourport says...
7:38am Fri 7 Nov 08

THE READINGS' PARKING FINE is fully justified. They know that they were in the wrong and admitted such. They say they received the ticket as the result of a “rare” trip to town with their eight-month-old babies. Again they are wrong; they were given the ticket because they broke the parking rules. Mrs Readings is reported to have said “When people see triplets every man and his dog wants to stop and look. Everyone comes up to you. You can’t move.” Wrong again, I most certainly don't and neither would the vast majority of people, although I admit one or two might as they are quite cute. Then they say it is difficult to use facilities in the town centre, like toilets, with a triple buggy. Maybe so, but that really has nothing to do with being given a parking ticket. Especially if what we are lead to believe is true, that the reason they were late back was because of the huge adoring mass of people flocking to see their children and blocking their way back to the car park.
The Readings should accept the responsibilities of having a driving licence and children both of which was their choice. They should just shut up and pay up. Wyre Forest District Council representatives were in this case right and enforced the rules fairly.