A south London resident returned from holiday to find he had been issued multiple parking fines after contractors painted a new disabled bay around his legally parked car. The unusual incident, which occurred in New Addington, Croydon, led to four penalty charge notices (PCNs) being issued despite the vehicle being parked in an unrestricted area at the time.
Bay Installed While Owner Was Away
CCTV Shows Contractors Working Around Parked Car
CCTV footage shared widely on social media captures contractors measuring and painting the disabled parking bay on 17 November, with the resident’s car still in place. The vehicle’s owner—who requested anonymity—had parked on the road outside his home, where no restrictions existed prior to his holiday.
Between 22 and 26 November, a total of four PCNs were placed on the vehicle by a parking attendant unaware of the circumstances surrounding the newly painted bay.
Council Confirms Fines Were Cancelled
Following online attention, Croydon Council issued a public apology “for the confusion” and confirmed the PCNs had been cancelled before the video gained traction on social media.
The council stated that although the tickets were issued, they were never formally processed as enforceable fines due to internal notes left by contractors.
Holiday Disrupted by Unexpected Tickets
Owner Spent Trip Monitoring Camera Feed
Speaking to BBC London, the vehicle owner described how he kept checking his home CCTV system throughout his holiday after noticing the construction work around his car.
“It really put a damper on my holiday,” he said. “I didn’t want to go out and do the things I wanted to do because I was worried about the amount of tickets I was accumulating.”
Upon returning home, he found two PCNs still attached to his windscreen, while two others had been removed—possibly by someone who had seen them and assumed they were issued incorrectly.
Lack of Notification Raises Questions
Resident Supports Need for Disabled Bay but Criticises Communication
The disabled bay had been installed following a request from a local resident in need of accessible parking. The owner said he fully supports the need for such facilities, acknowledging their importance and the necessity of prioritising accessibility within the community.
However, he criticised the council for failing to notify residents before the bay was painted, saying the situation could have been completely avoided had proper communication taken place.
“It’s the same as doing an extension or any other road work—you let people know,” he said. “Without any communication with your community, that’s the wrong way to do it.”
Miscommunication Leads to Chain Reaction
Contractor Informed Council—but Attendant Was Not Notified
Footage shows the contractor taking photographs of the car after painting the bay, reportedly to flag the situation to the council and prevent fines from being issued.
However, this information did not reach the parking attendant responsible for the area, who then issued tickets on multiple days based on what she believed to be an improperly parked vehicle.
The owner said the misunderstanding created a “snowball of wrongdoing,” beginning with the lack of notification and escalating through multiple agencies.
Online Backlash Adds to Stress
After sharing the CCTV footage to explain the situation, the man said he experienced a wave of negative comments on Facebook from some residents.
“It really upset me,” he explained. “I just thought, ‘Why are you looking at me as the bad guy?’”
He acknowledged that those criticizing him likely did not realise he had parked legally before the bay was created.
Despite the council’s public comment confirming the tickets were cancelled, the owner said he still had no written communication confirming the cancellations directly.
Council Defends Procedure but Apologises for Error
Painting Around Cars Considered ‘Standard Practice’
Croydon Council addressed the controversy, explaining that painting bays around parked vehicles is not unusual.
The spokesperson said: “Contractors painting the bay around the car was standard practice to avoid delays. Otherwise, they would have to wait for the space to be free, which may have taken weeks.”
Parking Attendant Faced Online Abuse
The council also stated that the parking attendant who issued the tickets was subjected to abusive comments online following the viral footage.
Officials urged residents to report concerns through official channels instead of directing anger at frontline staff.
“We ask that residents contact us directly and not abuse staff carrying out their duties,” the spokesperson added.
Public Response Highlights Bigger Conversation
Concerns Over Communication and Enforcement
The incident triggered widespread online discussion about local authority communication, fairness in enforcement, and the stress caused by unexpected PCNs. Many commenters questioned why residents were not informed in advance of the bay’s installation—particularly in areas where parking availability is already limited.
Some also expressed sympathy for the parking attendant, noting that without proper notification or internal updates, she had simply followed regulations based on what she saw.
Call for Clearer Local Procedures
The situation has renewed calls for councils to:
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Provide advance notice of significant changes to parking restrictions
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Improve communication between contractors and enforcement teams
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Ensure PCNs issued under unclear circumstances are swiftly and officially cancelled
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Protect both residents and frontline staff from unnecessary conflict
While Croydon Council reiterated its apology, many local residents say the incident shows the need for clearer and more transparent processes for implementing new restrictions.
Conclusion
The case of the disabled bay painted around a legally parked car in New Addington highlights the complications that arise when communication breaks down between councils, contractors, enforcement teams and residents. While the PCNs were ultimately cancelled, the owner endured stress throughout his holiday, confusion upon returning home, and online backlash over an issue he had no control over.
As Croydon Council reviews the situation and urges residents to direct concerns through proper channels, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of transparent communication and coordinated enforcement to prevent similar cases in the future.
