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Man in Birmingham disabled parking bay tow stand-off Man in Birmingham disabled parking bay tow stand-off
(about 3 hours 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. A driver who wrongly parked in a disabled bay in Birmingham sat in his car for more than seven 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. Mr Sanders got into his car after it was put on to a low-loader which meant it could not be moved.
Mr Sanders, who said he had driven to Birmingham to pick up his friend from work, is in a stand-off with council contractors. The stand-off finally came to an end at about 18:00 GMT. It is understood Mr Sanders had reached an agreement with the tow company, contracted by Birmingham City Council.
Mr Sanders, who said he had driven to Birmingham to pick up his friend from work, said he had "no quarrel" with being given a ticket for parking in the disabled bay.
However, he said it was his understanding there was an eight-hour grace period before a car can be towed, which was not observed.
It was "clear a mistake had been made", he added, and urged other people to "research their rights".
Police presencePolice 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. The 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."
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."
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. The £70 Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) would cost £35 if paid within 14 days. However, Mr Sanders would also have faced a £105 vehicle removal fee and £12 daily charges.