A taxi driver has been left fuming after receiving a parking ticket while helping a blind passenger.
Gary Fox was hit with a £70 fine after stopping in a disabled parking bay in Manchester Old Road, Middleton, on Tuesday morning (October 25).
The 60-year-old, who works for Middleton Cars, said he "left the car for two or three minutes at the most" while assisting regular customer Lenny Nicholson into a nearby pharmacy.
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After returning to his taxi, he said he was "shocked" to find a traffic warden slapping a ticket on his windscreen. Mr Fox, who has been driving cabs for 15 years, said he confronted the warden, who told him he needed a blue badge to park in the space.
He has since tried to appeal the fine but claims he has been unsuccessful.
"I took him [Mr Nicholson] from the car to the counter in the chemist and got the someone to assist him," he explained. "I left the car for two or three minutes at the most.
"I came outside while I was waiting to bring him to the car. I looked round and there was a traffic warden taking a photograph of my car and there was a ticket on my windscreen.
"I was shocked. I had only just taken him into the chemist and came straight back. It was unbelievable. The traffic warden just came from nowhere.
"There is no way he has not seen me taking the guy into the chemist. Why not think there is a nice guy helping a blind man?"
Mr Fox said he tried to explain that he had parked in the space while helping a disabled customer, claiming there was "nowhere else to park" at the time.
"He said it was not his problem and I should have a blue badge," Mr Fox said. "Lenny does not drive so he does not have a blue badge. I'm a taxi driver and I'm not disabled so I don't have one."
Mr Fox said that when he told Mr Nicholson what had happened, he offered to pay the fine but Mr Fox refused. Despite his anger over the parking ticket, he believes helping Mr Nicholson was the right thing to do.
"My job is to assist elderly and disabled people when I take them in my taxi," he said. "I've never encounted anything like this before. I'm disgusted and disappointed.
"What happens next time? Do I say 'you have to make your own way because I can't stop here?'"
"I would feel very nervous but I'd still do the exact same thing again. I would not let the passenger down, especially if they were disabled."
A spokesperson for Rochdale council said: “People without disabilities who park in disabled bays take spaces away from the people who really need them. This can mean people with mobility problems having to walk longer distances or even being unable to reach their destination.
“All drivers, but especially professional drivers like Mr Fox, should be aware that it is a legal requirement to display a blue badge while parking in a disabled bay and not having one can lead to a penalty charge notice being issued.
“It should be noted that whether or not you drive a vehicle, disabled people are eligible to apply for a Blue Badge for use as a passenger.”
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