A VOLUNTEER driver has spoken of her anger after an appeal for a "unfair" parking ticket to be overturned was refused.
Deepdene Avenue resident Sue Murrell received the penalty notice outside the Medwyn Surgery in Reigate Road, while doing a good deed on behalf of the Dorking Good Neighbours community transport service.
After hearing her appeal was unsuccesful, the 67-year-old called for parking attendants to allow more time before issuing tickets outside the surgery. The grandmother-of-four also called on Mole Valley District Council to explore the possibility of installing a drop-off bay for patients with a maximum stay of five minutes.
Mrs Murrell told the Advertiser: "The nearest car park is a five or six minute walk for an able-bodied person, assuming there is space in there.
"I deal with several people who aren't capable of that, so they just get in or out of the car directly outside. If they need assistance you get out and walk them to the surgery; it's the normal thing to do."
Recalling the incident, Mrs Murrell said she spotted the attendant writing the ticket and rushed to explain the situation.
"I couldn't have been away from the car for more than a matter of seconds, but he still put the ticket on," she said.
"I don't feel this was my fault. I feel frustrated about it as I didn't have a choice. If you overstay your parking, fine. If you park somewhere obviously wrong, fine. But five minutes outside a doctor's surgery?"
If a drop-off bay cannot be installed, Mrs Murrell called for the introduction of a sticker scheme like those which allow volunteer drivers to park free of charge at Epsom and Redhill hospitals.
The Dorking resident, who had a letter published on the issue in last week's Advertiser, also criticised council staff for failing to uphold her appeal against the £35 ticket, despite her submitting a letter of support from Dorking Good Neighbours chairman Bruce Ottaway.
She continued: "This makes me wonder how many other people are caught there, as that is what you have to do if you've got an elderly or injured patient.
"I feel aggrieved that we have a doctor's surgery with double yellows all around it. There's got to be something they can do about it."
Matt Blake, Mole Valley District Council spokesman, said the appeal was rejected because Mrs Murrell was unable to provide evidence to prove she was assisting an elderly resident but added that if she was able to do so, her case would be re-evaluated.
See Your Views – page 19
