A Birmingham jeweller claims he has received more than 300 parking fines over the years, despite having a valid agreement with the council.
Richard Johnson, 77, accused Birmingham City Council of treating people “horrifically” during the appeal process, saying the ordeal has caused him significant stress.
Johnson, who ran Piccadilly Jewellers for over 40 years, was granted permission to park outside his shop and in the city’s jewellery quarter after being attacked while carrying valuables in the 1980s. However, he says traffic wardens repeatedly issued fines, unaware of his permit.
While he never paid any of the fines, Johnson said the battle to get them overturned had a serious impact on his well-being.
He described the appeal process as exhausting and claimed many of his appeals were rejected without being properly reviewed.
Now, he is calling on the council to adopt a more flexible and fair approach, urging them to consider the finer details of individual cases.
He believes the strict enforcement is discouraging people from visiting Birmingham, contributing to the decline of its retail sector.
Birmingham City Council apologised for the stress caused but defended its appeals process, stating that all cases are carefully reviewed. Majid Mahmood, the council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, acknowledged Johnson’s frustration and stressed the importance of essential loading and unloading activities.
Despite the council’s response, Johnson insists the system needs to change to prevent others from facing similar struggles.
