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| Man in Birmingham disabled parking bay tow stand-off | Man in Birmingham disabled parking bay tow stand-off |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A driver who wrongly parked in a disabled bay in Birmingham has been sitting in his car for more than six hours to stop it being towed away. | |
| Matthew Sanders, 34, from Macclesfield, Cheshire, said he had spent £270 to get his car on the road and could not afford the costs if it was impounded. | Matthew Sanders, 34, from Macclesfield, Cheshire, said he had spent £270 to get his car on the road and could not afford the costs if it was impounded. |
| "If they take it off me I haven't got the funds to release it," he said. | "If they take it off me I haven't got the funds to release it," he said. |
| The car has been put on the back of a low-loader but it cannot be moved until Mr Sanders gets out of the vehicle. | The car has been put on the back of a low-loader but it cannot be moved until Mr Sanders gets out of the vehicle. |
| Mr Sanders, who said he had driven to Birmingham to pick up his friend from work, is in a stand-off with council contractors. | |
| Police presence | |
| Birmingham City Council said the driver had parked "illegally" in the bay without a blue badge. It is believed he got back into the car after it had been put on to the tow truck. | Birmingham City Council said the driver had parked "illegally" in the bay without a blue badge. It is believed he got back into the car after it had been put on to the tow truck. |
| "Disabled motorists have a right to park in designated spaces and this driver's actions have taken a much-needed space out of action for disabled visitors to the city for an entire morning and wasted the time of officers and contractors," a council spokeswoman said. | "Disabled motorists have a right to park in designated spaces and this driver's actions have taken a much-needed space out of action for disabled visitors to the city for an entire morning and wasted the time of officers and contractors," a council spokeswoman said. |
| "The police are in attendance and we hope this is resolved as soon as possible in order to keep the city moving on one of the busiest days of the year." | "The police are in attendance and we hope this is resolved as soon as possible in order to keep the city moving on one of the busiest days of the year." |
| Mr Sanders, who parked in the bay on Bennetts Hill in the city centre, said he was not disputing the £70 ticket which he had received but needed his car for work, to take his wife to work and for childcare. | |
| "I'm not disputing that, fair doos, I'm parked in a disabled bay, it says that there," he said. | |
| "But I don't agree that a simple vehicle civil matter that's not a criminal matter results in the theft of my vehicle." | "But I don't agree that a simple vehicle civil matter that's not a criminal matter results in the theft of my vehicle." |
| West Midlands Police said officers were there for a reassuring presence only and to prevent a breach of the peace. | West Midlands Police said officers were there for a reassuring presence only and to prevent a breach of the peace. |
| The £70 Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) would cost £35 if paid within 14 days, but Mr Sanders also faces a £105 vehicle removal fee and £12 daily charges. |