By Councillor Jeff Hanna, Merton Council (Labour, Pollards Hill ward)

May I totally disassociate myself from Mr Wise’s suggestion that Merton Council enforces traffic and parking regulations solely to raise revenue .

The reference in the article to my separate concern about appeals procedures may have misled your readers.

Traffic congestion is problematic for road users throughout Merton, and I fully support Council officers in enforcing regulations that are designed to ease traffic movement, and enable people to complete journeys with less time wasted queuing, less petrol used, less pollution, and less frustration.

My sympathy with Mrs King still stands, although I believe that the number of cases of motorists whose fines might be overturned with a more sympathetic approach would in fact be small.

They matter, and there may be scope for reviewing our procedures, but enforcement of the regulations also matters, and Mr Wise should acknowledge that.

Sadly, there is also evidence that some motorists, in writing to appeal a fine, are not entirely truthful. In reporting various stories, your own newspaper, indeed, has not always known all the facts.

Sifting genuine appeals from those that are less than honest cannot be easy.

I sympathise with Mrs King, but also with the officers themselves, and with all those seeking to navigate, or manage, our over-crowded streets.

 

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