THE partner of a woman suffering with cancer has been left 'disgusted' with South Lakeland District Council after being hit with what he believes is an unreasonable parking fine.

Chris O'Hare and Gabriella Gratrix, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in February, were visiting friends in the area and had parked at Miller Bridge, Ambleside.

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Mr O'Hare had paid for a ticket but moved his van forwards, outside of the designated markings, to access some medication for Miss Gratrix.

"I was actually in the vehicle with my partner as she was taking her medication, so why the enforcement officer never knocked and asked me why the vehicle was not reversed fully back I do not know," Mr O'Hare, who lives in Preston, said. "My vehicle was not causing any obstructions and we parked at the far end of the car park to avoid causing any obstructions whilst I went into the back of my van. My van was moved back again minutes later!"

The couple normally use their van to travel but have had to put their plans on hold while Miss Gratrix underwent a double mastectomy.

She has just completed her sixth cycle of chemotherapy and has to have an injection and take tablets every day.

The pair regularly visit the Lake District, and Mr O'Hare said that they have used that same car park before.

Although Mr O'Hare has paid the £25 parking fine, he said that it was not the money he was bothered by but the 'principle' of the matter.

"I think it's disgusting," the 42-year-old said. "It's not about the money, it's just the principle of it.

"If the council offer to pay back the £25, I would prefer they donate it to Prevent Breast Cancer. Prevent Breast Cancer are based at the Nightingale Centre at Wythenshawe Manchester which is a specialist breast unit trying to prevent breast cancer. It's such an amazing place, as is the Christie."

A spokeperson for South Lakeland District Council said: “We can appreciate Mr O’Hare’s position and understand the reasons why he needed to be parked at that time.

“However, the Civil Enforcement Officer who issued the ticket would have no way of knowing the circumstances at the time and correctly issued the notice as the vehicle was not parked in the bay, and due to its size wouldn’t be able to fit in the bay under any circumstances, and as a result was encroaching on the safe use of the site.

“At appeal the owner has the option to provide any mitigation and whilst the issue of medication and illness does provide some grounds, it was considered that because the vehicle had a side access door and no other vehicles were parked alongside that the argument put forward for the position of the vehicle was not reason enough to uphold the appeal.’’