South Lakeland District Council apologises for issuing parking ticket to Kendal snow-crash driver (From The Westmorland Gazette)
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South Lakeland District Council apologises for issuing parking ticket to Kendal snow-crash driver
9:00am Thursday 31st January 2013 in News
Catherine Niblock with the parking ticket which has since been quashed
SOUTH Lakeland District Council has apologised and backed down after issuing a parking ticket to a motorist who had crashed in the snow.
Catherine Niblock, 26, was issued the penalty after being forced to abandon her car on Friday night, when heavy snow sent it hurtling into another vehicle on Beast Banks, Kendal.
The PE teacher explained she was left ‘hysterical and shaken’ after the incident.
Passers-by who saw the crash rushed to her aid, helping her push the Peugeot on to the nearby Low Fellside car park, run by SLDC for permit holders.
Miss Niblock left an apologetic note explaining what had happened, urging anyone who needed the space to telephone her.
But when she returned to collect her car after the snow had cleared on Sunday morning, she found she had been issued with a parking ticket.
The Gazette stepped in after speaking to Miss Niblock - and now SLDC has agreed to write off the penalty altogether.
“I was so shaken. I was really shocked and shaking and I couldn’t have moved the car,” said Miss Niblock, who works at Queen Katherine School, in Kendal.
“The snow was bad and I didn’t want to risk crashing it again.
“I also didn’t know how bad the damage was and wasn’t sure it would even make it home, so the logical thing seemed to be to leave it on the car park until I could move it.”
She continued: “I crashed into a parked car and people on the street and staff from Wetherspoons came out to help me.
“I was so upset when I came back and found the parking ticket. It’s the last thing you want when you’ve crashed your car and are trying to sort that out.
“It’s been so stressful, really upsetting.”
She explained that she left her home, at Beast Banks, at around 5pm on Friday to drive to Manchester for a university reunion.
But just seconds into her journey, she was sent hurtling down the snow-covered hill after losing control of her car.
“It was horrendous,” she said. “Just so scary."
Coun Ian Stewart, portfolio holder for economy and enterprise, said: “We would like to thank the Gazette for bringing this to the authority’s attention and apologise to Miss Niblock for the trouble we have caused her.”
Comments(58)
Samlock
says...
10:17am Thu 31 Jan 13
Samlock wrote:Upon re-reading the full article I see that she was heading to Manchester for a Uni reunion... I'm sorry but that's just unbelievably stupid. DON'T DRIVE.
Well what the **** was she doing driving on Beast Banks of all roads in THAT heavy snow? Deserves the ticket for the sheer stupidity. There is nowhere in and around Kendal that is not within walking distance, there is no excuse for having to drive. I walked from Burneside to Oxenholme that night without any issues at all, and a PE teacher of all people should be more than fit enough to walk...
Spies
says...
10:22am Thu 31 Jan 13
magical trevor
says...
10:49am Thu 31 Jan 13
magical trevor
says...
10:50am Thu 31 Jan 13
zaney5
says...
11:03am Thu 31 Jan 13
Samlock wrote:My sympathies lie with the owner of the parked car.
Samlock wrote:Upon re-reading the full article I see that she was heading to Manchester for a Uni reunion... I'm sorry but that's just unbelievably stupid. DON'T DRIVE.
Well what the **** was she doing driving on Beast Banks of all roads in THAT heavy snow? Deserves the ticket for the sheer stupidity. There is nowhere in and around Kendal that is not within walking distance, there is no excuse for having to drive. I walked from Burneside to Oxenholme that night without any issues at all, and a PE teacher of all people should be more than fit enough to walk...
To drive down possibly the steepest hill in Kendal in that weather, well it doesn't take a genius to work out the outcome.
She should be thanking her lucky stars that all she hit was a parked car and not a pedestrian.
And how idiotic do you have to be to think you'd get to Manchester in that weather.
Helvellyn55
says...
11:11am Thu 31 Jan 13
davidearnshaw
says...
11:43am Thu 31 Jan 13
zaney5
says...
11:59am Thu 31 Jan 13
davidearnshaw wrote:True but you have to ask yourself why was someone making an unnecessary journey in such bad weather, when the police and local authorities had already advised people NOT to drive. Its not like she was someone trying to get home from work and ended up abandoning her car at the side of the road like many people had to do.
Here we go again ----- SLDC enforcement officers seem to be unable to use any degree of discretion --- there seems to be no ability to look sympathetically at the circumstances of what appears to be an infringement -- in this case an explanatory note had been left --- the circumstances of the snowstorm had been exceptional-- surely the best approach for good public relations would have been rather than just taking the easy route of slapping a ticket on the vehicle would have been to check if it ( wrong place no matter what the circumstances )really had outstayed a reasonable time --- say beyond the following day ------ many vehicles were abandoned in all sorts of situations that evening from town roads to main A roads ------ I would like to suggest that the enforcement officers and back office are given some tuition in situation management and discretion --- over recent years there have been numerous cases of questionable tickets being issued and then having very reasonable appeals being turned down --- it was very pleasing to see that this one received a sympathetic hearing from the "back office" I hope this indicates in the future that reasonability will prevail.
She deliberately took the decision to start a journey in that awful weather against advice, inconvenienced other people in the process and then goes whining to the local paper cos she got a parking ticket.
Personally I'd say she got off lightly, considering what could have happened .
Lakeuk
says...
1:01pm Thu 31 Jan 13
As to driving while ignoring all the warnings, well we do have a society that thinks grit is to solution to all drivers problems
zaney5
says...
1:26pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Lakeuk wrote:I think your any knowledgeable person would have been aware that Fridays weather was beyond grit.
Sounds like a good a result to a harsh lesson - would she had to same outcome if she went direct to an faceless council ;)
As to driving while ignoring all the warnings, well we do have a society that thinks grit is to solution to all drivers problems
magical trevor
says...
1:38pm Thu 31 Jan 13
w does this situation possibly become of the council's making. What a shocking twisting of the facts davidearhshaw....I wondered how long it would before someone crawled out of the woodwork to point an accusing finger at the council. You haven't disappointed.
boris plasticmac
says...
2:26pm Thu 31 Jan 13
The lady got her fine rescinded which seems fair in the circumstances and we can now all get on with the rest of our lives.
magical trevor
says...
2:46pm Thu 31 Jan 13
848848
says...
2:49pm Thu 31 Jan 13
For Cllr ian Stewart to make this statement of wrong doing is a breath of fresh air and I applaud him for doing the right thing.
As far as the journey taking place, then lessons can be learned but I'm aware the whole M6 was blocked recently and a car driver included in this jam was the MP David Morris. Is he to be berated for travelling as well.
boris plasticmac
says...
2:54pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Does it matter how the wrong was righted? It has been, we can all move on.
Kendmoor
says...
2:57pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Would perhaps be very interesting to read what sort of comments usernames above have left on council and council parking related threads. Feels like there is a certain amount of hypocrisy and a large amount of "greater than thou" going on here!
848848
says...
2:58pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Coun Ian Stewart, portfolio holder for economy and enterprise, said:
“We would like to thank the Gazette for bringing this to the authority’s attention and apologise to Miss Niblock for the trouble we have caused her.”
So the young lady was correct to contact the paper and journalism is a freedom we have here so be thankful
zaney5
says...
3:03pm Thu 31 Jan 13
magical trevor wrote:Yikes, twice so far in 2013 but agree totally with you Trev.
Shows how embarrassed she was by going directly to the WG instead of first approaching the Council.....typical publicity hungry person trying to scare the council into submission.
Ok. going out on a limb here and saying that given the circumstances of the weekend, cars abandoned all over the spot, that giving out parking tickets was possibly not the best move. But, the way she's gone about it, ie, going to the press instead of dealing directly with the council smacks of publicity seeking.
I still stand by the fact that it was sheer lunacy to get behind the wheel in those conditions though. Seriously, how far did she think she'd get? I know folk who were stranded from home for the night and didn't even attempt the journey purely for safety reasons.
I suppose it just goes to prove, you can go to Uni and get all the qualifications you can. But they mean nothing unless you have a modicum of common sense to go with them!
magical trevor
says...
3:23pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Spotty Fish
says...
4:37pm Thu 31 Jan 13
I know nothing
says...
5:04pm Thu 31 Jan 13
There were six parked outside Farrers this morning and I never spotted one of them loading or unloading anything.
zaney5
says...
5:29pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Spotty Fish wrote:Which just goes to show, don't assume anything. Including that the motorway would be clear. By 5pm the weather was bad enough to be causing problems all over the North West.
I must say that it seems perfectly reasonable that she should try and get to the motorway, which normally you would expect to be clear. No one really knew the snow was going to fall that heavily and quickly despite the forecast. After all, it was only a couple of weeks earlier that they were warning us to stay in, leading to panic buying, only for us to get absolutely no snow at all!
Ladyxxmacbeth
says...
5:33pm Thu 31 Jan 13
I mean if you all feel so strongly why dont you go up to QKS and tell her how stupid she is to her face... See it isn't quite so easy when you don't have a computer screen to hide behind !
life cycle too
says...
7:21pm Thu 31 Jan 13
I was on my way home from a doctors appointment in Ambleside, and encountered a queue of traffic at Troutbeck Bridge. I took a picture from my car - and another when I eventually reached the top of the hill, and from looking at the times, can say the situation was getting worse by the minute!
I eventually left my car in a car park in Bowness and walked home, because Crag Brow looked like a train wreck!
The snow on the pavements was not slippery at all - which leads me to suspect that MELTED snow from earlier gritting was covered by fresh snow - causing the extra slip.
No wonder some people might have got into their car and failed to realise how much worse the road surface was than it looked.
Lakeuk
says...
7:43pm Thu 31 Jan 13
backatyou
says...
8:07pm Thu 31 Jan 13
With regards to your comment on freedom i am assuming you are reffering to freedom of speech if so pleas pay attention to the following.
The human rights act under artcle 10(2) if the convention the protection of the reputation of others is a legitamate ground for restricting the right to freedom of expression.libel and slander are legal claims that protect an individuals reputation against defamation an individual is defamed when a person publishes to a third party words or matter containing an untrue imputation against his or her reputation.
007113
says...
10:43pm Thu 31 Jan 13
I know nothing wrote:Why oh why do people feel the need to go straight to the press before trying to sort out any issues with the authority. I mean from what I read did Miss Niblock give the council chance to resolve the issue of the ticket she received before getting the gazette involved ? We all know how bad the weather became, but was it that important to risk life and limb for a jolly out ? Perhaps Miss Niblock should have taken the advice from the weather forecast and police.
Anybody any idea why all the Taxis waiting in a loading only bay are not given tickets?
There were six parked outside Farrers this morning and I never spotted one of them loading or unloading anything.
007113
says...
10:51pm Thu 31 Jan 13
007113 wrote:You need to direct you question about taxis to Cumbria County Council who are now responsible for on street parking, and yes I agree to many taxis are parked in the PEDESTRIAN PRIORITY ZONE .
I know nothing wrote:Why oh why do people feel the need to go straight to the press before trying to sort out any issues with the authority. I mean from what I read did Miss Niblock give the council chance to resolve the issue of the ticket she received before getting the gazette involved ? We all know how bad the weather became, but was it that important to risk life and limb for a jolly out ? Perhaps Miss Niblock should have taken the advice from the weather forecast and police.
Anybody any idea why all the Taxis waiting in a loading only bay are not given tickets?
There were six parked outside Farrers this morning and I never spotted one of them loading or unloading anything.
life cycle too
says...
5:34am Fri 1 Feb 13
On Saturday evening, approximately 20 were still there.
Despite they were causing an obstruction of the highway - none of them were ticketed by Cumbria police!
A better standard of training perhaps, or simply more common sense?
Moonbase
says...
8:08am Fri 1 Feb 13
life cycle too wrote:They were still there on sunday even up until 11-30.
On Saturday morning there were more than 50 cars abandoned between Windermere and Kendal on the A591 - many of them in awkward places, narrowing the carriageway.
On Saturday evening, approximately 20 were still there.
Despite they were causing an obstruction of the highway - none of them were ticketed by Cumbria police!
A better standard of training perhaps, or simply more common sense?
Apparently the Crook road was worse there was a car abbandoned on a blind bend in the middle of the road on Sunday morning.
Granted if the snow is bad and you struggle to drive in it, surely you should have the common scense to leave it in an appropiate manner as to not hinder other drivers when the snow melts.
Just bad driving i'm affraid and the excuse of the weather does'nt wash with me and the fine should stand and all those on the 591 should have had a ticket.
Surely the drivers were aware that they had left their cars in a dangerous position.
As for 'Loading Bay',I parked outside what was Oddbins in a loading bay which was free of other vehicles on a saturday morning at 11-15 delivering to the butchers in the market square.
I was greeted by a traffic warden who asked me if i was blind?
I said excuse me,he replied saying that i could'nt park there after 11 pointing to a very badly positioned sign and that if left the van i would have a ticket on my return,fearing a loss of a days wages i got into my van muttering expletives and proceeded to the traffic lights outside the Town Hall only to see an artic wagon delivering to weaterspoons blocking one side of the road hindering all traffic turning up beast banks and creating a snake of one lane traffic as we are only to aware of anyone who drives in Kendal.
The moral of the story is that if park and drive safely your more likely to be nabbed!!!!!!
P.s I drove round to the back of Beales and parked on Double Yellows and delivered my load...Butcher happy.
Mind how you go!!!!!
Samlock
says...
8:49am Fri 1 Feb 13
Ladyxxmacbeth wrote:Name the time and date and I'll be there. Problem is I can't exactly walk straight into a school, can I?
The snow did come down very quickly and it would have been easy to be caught unawares.
I mean if you all feel so strongly why dont you go up to QKS and tell her how stupid she is to her face... See it isn't quite so easy when you don't have a computer screen to hide behind !
magical trevor
says...
8:56am Fri 1 Feb 13
With regards to your comment on freedom i am assuming you are reffering to freedom of speech if so pleas pay attention to the following.
The human rights act under artcle 10(2) if the convention the protection of the reputation of others is a legitamate ground for restricting the right to freedom of expression.libel and slander are legal claims that protect an individuals reputation against defamation an individual is defamed when a person publishes to a third party words or matter containing an untrue imputation against his or her reputation.”
Well done you for using Google. Who's a clever boy\girl then....what bearing does your post have on this discussion? None
848848
says...
11:09am Fri 1 Feb 13
Do you deny the right of this vehicle driver to discuss her thoughts on injustice with the newspaper and do you support Councillor Stewart thanking the newspaper for their help
Do you believe vehicles left abandoned on the Kendal to Windermere Road overnight on a clearway should be issue with a penalty as I noticed a white Vauxhall Corsa parked stuck in the snow for more than 10 hours at the same time as this females dilema?
Common sense has to prevail and this is what Cllr Stewart has done, he has apologised for his staff's errors on this occasion there bad judgement and its was the correct action - Well done Cllr Stewart for being open and honest with regards to his departments failings.
BillyBob86
says...
11:27am Fri 1 Feb 13
zaney5
says...
12:05pm Fri 1 Feb 13
As Magical Trevor has already said, what else was he going to do other than be polite.
Why DIDN'T Miss Niblock go straight to the council and try and sort it out with them? Could it be because she thought she wouldn't get anywhere with them? I know, lets go to the papers and blow it all out of proportion in public.
Realistically what has she achieved - other than not having to pay for a parking fine? She's made herself look very petty & silly in the eyes of some and personally, I think I'd rather have the fine!!
848848
says...
1:31pm Fri 1 Feb 13
He could have asked the journalist to inform the lady to write to SLDC with her challenge or as it transpires he demonstrated perfectly what a person in his position has done, he used common sense dealing with it without causing further distress.
As your a person who wants everything correct maybe you can write to SLDC and have them remove the word 'parking fine' from their website and replace it with 'parking penalty' as SLDC are enforcing civil parking and not criminal parking. The Police can issue a fine but not SLDC.
http://www.southlake
land.gov.uk/Default.
aspx
zaney5
says...
2:14pm Fri 1 Feb 13
848848 wrote:Er... I actually don't think he HAD any other option once the Gazette got involved. That's the point I'm trying to make. Had he gone done the first route you suggest, then that would have only caused more negativity for the council, which I'm sure you can understand they wouldn't want!
zaney5 what other options do you believe Cllr Stewrt had....
He could have asked the journalist to inform the lady to write to SLDC with her challenge or as it transpires he demonstrated perfectly what a person in his position has done, he used common sense dealing with it without causing further distress.
As your a person who wants everything correct maybe you can write to SLDC and have them remove the word 'parking fine' from their website and replace it with 'parking penalty' as SLDC are enforcing civil parking and not criminal parking. The Police can issue a fine but not SLDC.
http://www.southlake
land.gov.uk/Default.
aspx
Had she gone directly to the council, without all this publicity then it might have been a different outcome.
Parking penalty? Parking fine? Personally I couldn't care less what term is used. But do feel free to contact them cos it seems you have a problem with it!
life cycle too
says...
2:19pm Fri 1 Feb 13
If she had gone to SLDC, they would probably have rejected her appeal, then refused to give way even if the Gazette had been involved later, so as not to have to be seen to go back on the first decision.
Remember the elderly lady asleep in her car who was ticketed because her disable sticker was upside down??
whiskeydelta
says...
3:05pm Fri 1 Feb 13
007113
says...
3:12pm Fri 1 Feb 13
life cycle too wrote:If Miss Niblock had gone through the right process who would know what would have happened. This will never be known, but if it had been rejected then that is not the end of it has Miss Niblock could have appealed to an INDEPENDENT BODY, not attached to any councils, who would have reviewed all the facts and evidence and made a final decision. If we are nitpicking and the council are so bad then I guess the ticket would have been issued earlier. Try going up and down the country to other towns and cities and you will realize that the civil enforcement officers here are a lot more understanding and lenient.
I've had dealings with councillor Stewart, and to be honest, I think she did the right thing going to the Gazette first.
If she had gone to SLDC, they would probably have rejected her appeal, then refused to give way even if the Gazette had been involved later, so as not to have to be seen to go back on the first decision.
Remember the elderly lady asleep in her car who was ticketed because her disable sticker was upside down??
Spotty Fish
says...
3:40pm Fri 1 Feb 13
Samlock
says...
3:42pm Fri 1 Feb 13
Spotty Fish wrote:Apparently so if you're commenting as well ;)
Is this news item really worthy of 41 comments?
zaney5
says...
4:02pm Fri 1 Feb 13
whiskeydelta wrote:You joke, but how many people will now do the same thinking it will be an easy way to get out of paying a few quid!
Sounds as though I should go straight to WG next time I receive a parking ticket!!
zaney5
says...
4:05pm Fri 1 Feb 13
life cycle too wrote:So what you're saying is Councillor Stewart wouldn't have given her the time of day had she gone direct to the council and he's only backed down cos the Gazette got involved?
I've had dealings with councillor Stewart, and to be honest, I think she did the right thing going to the Gazette first.
If she had gone to SLDC, they would probably have rejected her appeal, then refused to give way even if the Gazette had been involved later, so as not to have to be seen to go back on the first decision.
Remember the elderly lady asleep in her car who was ticketed because her disable sticker was upside down??
That only goes to prove to me that the ticket should have stood and the council only backed down due to press interference.
Spotty Fish
says...
4:10pm Fri 1 Feb 13
Samlock
says...
5:02pm Fri 1 Feb 13
Spotty Fish wrote:Don't worry yourself too much, I have that effect on a lot of people... :-)
Ooh Samlock, thank heavens I'm wearing my widest belt, for fear my sides would split otherwise at your wit and humour!
A view From Cumbria
says...
5:38pm Fri 1 Feb 13
Be that as it may one should drive and conduct oneself on the road in a manner appropriate to the conditions.
There is a real problem on major roads when snow clearance vehicles cannot make progress because of abandoned cars.
So far we have escaped relatively lightly this year and the fact this is the major snow related story is in itself a good thing.
backatyou
says...
8:25pm Fri 1 Feb 13
848848
says...
10:29pm Fri 1 Feb 13
Its probably best you find something more constructive to do with your free time rather than make silly comments about libel and slander.
The postings here are for grown ups who if you read their various comments are written with a passion for their beliefs of whats right and wrong.
Nobody can tell you what to think... but in this instance I agree that the Council have been superb, Cllr Stewart has been exemplary with his statement and the quick response he gave to the newspaper.
As far as the other Gazette story that highlighted the SLDC 'disabled' issue recently the leader of the Council again demonstrated great leadership by admitting serious administration errors thus ending a drawn out litigation process that avoided a costly conclusion.
Maybe you might complain to the Gazette by reporting forum contributors if you feel passionate enough that their personnel comments affect your ability to earn a living...
Which is what libel and slander will be decided upon by the person who is qualified to wear a white wig and a red robe!
Its mostly a law for the higer profile person (famous) and not an employee of... for instance SLDC or British Gas or BT.
I hope this clarifies the position and in conclusion do you have any comments about this particular newspaper story or is it just a bullying exercise of forum member postings?
magical trevor
says...
7:25am Sat 2 Feb 13
furthersouth
says...
10:14am Sat 2 Feb 13
lakesailor
says...
10:15am Sat 2 Feb 13
Spotty Fish wrote:Heavily and quickly? No one knew?
I must say that it seems perfectly reasonable that she should try and get to the motorway, which normally you would expect to be clear. No one really knew the snow was going to fall that heavily and quickly despite the forecast. After all, it was only a couple of weeks earlier that they were warning us to stay in, leading to panic buying, only for us to get absolutely no snow at all!
"But just seconds into her journey, she was sent hurtling down the snow-covered hill after losing control of her car.
“It was horrendous,” she said. “Just so scary."
I would suggest that as soon as she stepped outside the door at home she knew. Perhaps she has little experience of driving in the snow.
I have plenty, and use a 4x4, but I certainly wasn't going anywhere that night. It had been forecast and the forecast was spot-on.
It isn't worth the hassle. As others have indicated the problem of trying to get past all the abandoned vehicles makes it a trial.
wezzyk
says...
10:35pm Sat 2 Feb 13
I gave the reason why I thought it should be cancelled, they accepted my reason and that was the end of the tale. No photos, no reporters, no ridiculous articles suggesting people are to blame and incompetent just very simple dignified following the SLDC system for appealing a parking ticket and polite negotiation.
Perhaps other people should try this before running to the Gazette to create a complete non story.
Gingery
says...
10:08am Sun 3 Feb 13
Yes if you write to the ticketing authorities, nice genuine letter they usually let you off that time - warning you not to do it again.
Seems fair to me if there is a genuine reason. Not driving in blizzards is a good idea.
It's also getting a bit boring hearing constant complaints about parking. It's every week. Some visitors to the area commented that they thought parking arrangements, and fees weren't too bad around Kendal. There are many places where it's much more difficult and much more expensive to park - or do we really have such a problem with it?
kendalwasgreat
says...
10:11am Sun 3 Feb 13
jazzactivist
says...
10:55am Wed 6 Feb 13
The weather clearly wasn't so bad as to deter parking wardens! SLDC showed their usual cruel lack of concern for people's circumstances in ticketing Catherine's car. That's exactly why she had to go to the press to get help to overturn this unfair penalty - because SLDC doesn't listen to anyone who, in their view, has no clout. Well done to WG and Catherine in getting this unfair parking ticket overturned.
zaney5
says...
11:33am Wed 6 Feb 13
It's also already been mentioned that someone did have a ticket cancelled by SLDC. So I guess they can be moved on certain things.
This lady in question made the assumption that her case would be better heard by the Gazette, instead of SLDC. Unfortunately, we will never know what the outcome would have been had she gone to the council first.
Still, lets hope she's learnt her lesson and will avoid heavily snowy roads from now on.
Samlock says...
10:16am Thu 31 Jan 13