Kensington and Chelsea council accidentally fines great-grandad 12 times

By Jacob Phillips, Local Democracy Reporter

A great-grandad was left shocked after facing fines of up to £1,560 for parking near his home.

Peter Lee was given 12 parking tickets by Kensington and Chelsea council after a blunder meant his permit wasn’t registered correctly.

The retired fashion designer’s Mercedes was covered in yellow parking fines, and a traffic warden even warned Peter that his vehicle could be towed if he didn’t pay the incorrect fines.

The 77-year-old said: “I have had two weeks of sleepless nights [while the issue was solved]. I was worried that my car was going to be towed away.

“I’m about to be a great-grandad for the second time and I would like to be able to go down to Rochester and support my granddaughter. I could have been unable to do that. There should not have been an issue in the first place.”

The Notting Hill resident tried to pay his £250 parking permit for the new year, but because of a delay in updating the council’s system, parking officers didn’t know Peter had paid his dues.

The council has now sorted the problem and Peter will not be charged.

A Kensington and Chelsea council spokesman said: “We’re sorry for any distress this caused to the resident. The permit is valid and all the tickets have been cancelled.

“Payment wasn’t made for a renewed residents’ parking permit renewal before the previous one expired.

“There was a delay in processing the permit after payment which meant penalty charge notices were issued whilst the permit was not showing as valid.”

Pictured top: Peter Lee and his Mercedes (Picture: Jacob Philips)