Hi, I will be moving into a new area soon living in a 1 bed flat above a shop, the whole area is permit parking for about 3/4m to 1m in all directions. I have a minor disability and cant walk long distances with heavy items like weekly food shopping ect but no disabled badge as can drive ok as no weight on my hip and use trolley to the car so never seen the need to get one.
I called the council to get a residential permit as I lived within the zone (it is £35 for the year which I am more than happy to pay and an extra £40 per year for a guest permit which I was going to get for my sister to use as she will visit often) but was told by the lady on the phone that I wasn't eligible for a permit.
In the area the street I will be on is the main street with shops and the street is loading only however the street behind this is residential permit only. this is the street my door leads out to not the main street so I had thought that as my door leads out to the street where it is permit only that I could get a permit. the lady I spoke to said that as my address is down as the main street I couldn't have one because nobody who lived on the main street is allowed one.
I had thought as I was in the zone it would be allowed whether I lived on the main street or not but especially as my door leads out to the street behind where it is permit parking. Most of the shops have flats above so problem must have come up, maybe those people who live on the main street either don't drive or park quite far away.
My sister suggested I email and explain what I was told and ask the council parking department if there was anywhere I could park. They emailed back to say that I couldn't have a residential permit but I could buy a permit for £350 a year that was a commuter permit and I could park on the first three roads either side of the main road with it.
I could just about afford this but i don't understand why i have to pay ten times as much to park on my street as my neighbours opposite.
My sister suggested i should write to someone higher in the council or my MP but i don't know if im being unreasonable or not.
YABU - you should have checked this before deciding to move onto that street
YANBU - Surely if you're in a residential permit zone you are a resident entitled to a permit
Thank you 