A DISABLED woman who struggles to walk because her “bones are crumbling away” can no longer park near her home after double yellow lines were painted in the road.
Jacqueline Allen, 58, has lived in a block of flats in Hamlet Drive, just off Avon Way, Colchester, since 2007, when there was a wealth of parking available.
Since then the family support worker has had hip replacements and developed arthritis throughout her body, meaning she cannot walk without being in pain.
The emergence of more vehicles and double yellow lines in and around the road in which she lives, however, now means Jacqueline cannot park outside her property.
“From the minute I get up in the morning to the minute I go to bed at night I am in pain so I need to be able to park easily and nearby because I cannot walk,” she said.
“I have had four hip replacements and they need doing again because they are worn out, both of my knees need doing, as well as my ankle and one of my arms.
“My bones are crumbling away because I worked too hard too early. I am in excruciating pain.”
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Due to her disability and need to be close to her home, Jacqueline has continued to park on the double yellow lines but has been slapped with parking tickets as a result.
Blue badge holders are permitted to park on yellow lines for up to three hours, but the mum says she need to be able use the parking space outside her flat at all times.
Jacqueline said: “They have never given us a reason for putting the double yellow lines in and it does not make any sense – I just think it is not good enough.
“The first month I parked on the lines it was fine but over the last few months the tickets have been constant and I have had four in the last four weeks.
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“I applied for a disabled bay to be put in outside my home a couple of years ago but I was told it could take up to a year before anything is done.
“I will help anybody out if I can and I am a good person, but feel like I am being victimised now.”
The North Essex Parking Partnership has been contacted for comment.
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