AN incensed Teignmouth pensioner says she is ‘absolutely heaving’ after receiving three parking tickets since Friday.

Shirley Harper has parked her car opposite her house in Dawlish Road at Eastcliff Car Park for 22 years without problems.

But 76-year-old Shirley, who has a spinal condition, says: ‘Since Friday I have received three parking tickets, although I am displaying a Blue Badge and to my knowledge via Teignbridge District Council, I have paid for a permit.

‘This system is computerised so I don’t have paperwork to support this.’

‘On phoning the Car Park officer, I am told my permit with them has run out and they don’t offer reminders as those permits are not available anymore.

‘The format now, is to purchase a permit for £510 a year, which gives me access to car parks. BUT then I’m told I can only park opposite my house on Eastcliff Carpark for 48 hours only and I have to move on and not return within a certain time.

‘ I am not allowed to ‘store’ whatever that means, my car opposite my house as I have done for 22 years! And indeed paid for.

‘I asked who’s idea was this, answer was, Teignmouth Councillors. Not only do residents not get any concessions for parking. I now can’t park opposite my house as I’m not fit enough to roam around the car parks in 48 hour intervals.

‘This is ludicrous. Not only that, my husband is disabled too, so permits would cost £1,200.

‘But that is to move around day and night.’

‘My husband is 66 years old, with Parkinson’s Disease, so we desperately need a permanent parking space close to our property.

‘This is a parking nightmare.’

A spokesperson for teignbridge Council said: ‘The blue badge scheme is operated by Devon County Council and can be used for on street parking, which is also regulated by DCC.

‘Last year Teignbridge councillors removed the blue badge permit for car parks, because this only enabled Teignbridge residents with a blue badge to buy a permit and not anyone with a disability from outside the area; but instead we introduced a one-hour dispensation on top of time purchased on a valid pay and display ticket, if shown with a pay and display and blue badge in the window.

‘This change was widely advertised on our website and our e-newsletter, and through local media and social media.

‘Because of the limited number of disabled parking bays in our car parks, we try to ensure that everyone has access to them to visit town centres, do their shopping, etc, and there simply aren’t enough of these spaces to allow people to use them as their permanent car parking space.

‘This car park has always had a 48 hour limit and this applies to everyone.’