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We haven’t left our home in months after parking permit was taken away – it’s not fair but we’re going to fight it
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A COUPLE claim they have been left virtually trapped in their home for months after their residents' parking permit was taken away.
Margaret Jones and Peter Lee, from Weymouth, Dorset, have found themselves without a space after 14 years in the same property.
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They say that they were left fuming in February when they were informed that their permit for the local car park would be revoked when the site changed hands just two months later.
The pair claim that the previous arrangement, which saw them pay £300 a year for a permanent space, "worked perfectly".
But the local council has, reportedly, told them that the car park will be taken over by a private agent and that the permit scheme will be phased out.
Even Peter's blue badge doesn't grant him an exemption, forcing them to find alternative parking in the town.
Margaret told ITV News: "All the other options we were given wouldn’t work though.
"On-street parking isn’t an option because there’s no space.
"Whenever we go out with a car we don’t have a space to come back to, any time or day.
"They haven’t got enough space for residents, nevermind visitors."
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The devastated homeowner alleged that she and Peter have barely left the house since March as a result of the rule change.
According to Margaret, they now have to shell out £22 on taxis for each of their regular hospital visits and she has been forced to use public transport just to do the weekly shop.
My car gets ticketed every morning but I can't park anywhere else - city makes thousands in fees & I can't get a permit
She went on: "It’s ruined our lives.
"It’s the stress that’s bothering us so much, it’s not fair.
"There’s no empathy, no compassion.
"I’ll do anything it takes to get that space back in the car park.
"The irony is the car park is always empty now because it’s so expensive."
A spokesperson for Dorset Council said: "We are sorry to hear about the difficulties Mr and Mrs Jones are experiencing, and have spoken with Mrs Jones about her concerns.
“The reserved Park Street bays were part of the Weymouth and Portland Borough Council scheme that was withdrawn some years ago.
Mrs Jones and other bay holders were able to continue using the scheme and we gave them a year’s notice in 2023 that they would need to make alternative arrangements.
As with all our other public car parks, there is high demand for spaces so resident’s permits do not guarantee the permit holder use of a specific space.
"If specific spaces were allocated, there would be insufficient spaces for shoppers, workers and visitors to park.
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“Our current parking arrangements will be reviewed in the near future.”
It comes after drivers in three popular seaside locations were slapped with an 18-month parking ban after complaints from local residents.
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