A trader has hit out at “misleading and confusing” parking restrictions in Edgware after he was landed with a ticket.

Hilmi Solmaz, owner of Honey Bees Dry Cleaners in Edgwarebury Lane, received the £110 ticket on April 15 after parking in nearby St Margarets Road.

Time restrictions in the road are from 10am to 11am, except for a short 40 yard stretch from the junction of Penshurst Gardens, which is 2pm to 3pm.

But Mr Solmaz, 42, said having two different zones is “confusing”, as the 10am to 11am signs are more prominent - leading him to believe the whole area fell under the same zone.

He received the ticket for parking in the 2pm to 3pm zone, which he also blamed on a missing sign, despite one being on the other side of the road.

 

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Mr Solmaz in Penshurst Gardens, near the junction where he received the ticket. He says the 10-11am signs are more prominent, which led him to believe the whole area fell under the same zone

The trader, who recently moved to Luton after 12 years living in Penshurst Gardens, Edgware, said: “It makes no sense and is very confusing. The problem is a missing sign, which is misleading. One simple sign, that’s all it would take. Most people pay straight away because they don’t have time, they are too busy running around.

“Twelve years I was in Edgware, and I didn’t notice, so if somebody from further away came to quickly pay the bills or go to the post office, they would think it was okay and do the same thing.”

Mr Solmaz is contesting the £110 ticket.

He said: “If I have a fine and make a mistake, I pay, but on this one, I know I am right. I am not paying it.

“It’s unfair, and they are making lots of revenue from that. If you made a mistake and you know you are liable for it, then fine, but this problem was created by Barnet council.

“They should put the correct sign up and then refund all the people who got fined on that corner. Then the case is closed. They unfairly took their money, of course they should pay for it. There is a lot of confusion. The majority of people who get tickets just like me because they think it’s exactly the same.”

A spokesman for Barnet council said: ““We are reviewing this case further and will contact Mr Solmaz in due course.”