A DUNFERMLINE pensioner who has waited six YEARS to have a disabled parking space removed from outside his house was hit with a parking ticket – for parking in it.

The bay was for the use of his disabled wife, Mardell, and had been outside the Barrie Street home of 79-year-old Jimmy Dick for around 30 years.

However, soon after her tragic death in a car crash in April 2014, he says the family asked for it to be removed when they handed in her blue badge.

"When my wife died, my daughter handed in the blue badge straight away and she said, 'Will you be coming to take the lines away?' but no-one has ever turned up," Mr Dick told the Press.

"I have been parking (in it) for the last six years and all of a sudden I get a ticket. The space is right in the middle of my house. They never said I couldn't park there.

"I have been here for 30 years and it's the first time we have had a traffic warden come up and put tickets on."

Mr Dick said they requested the bay's markings be removed again on January 21 through Fife Council's online system. However, two days later, he found he had been issued with a fine for parking in the space.

He appealed but it's been rejected as the council said there were no grounds for cancellation.

A friend has now submitted a fresh appeal on his behalf for which they are awaiting the outcome.

Mr Dick has also received notification from the council that they will remove the space – but it could take up to six months for this to be done.

"I have waited six years – I don't suppose another six months is going to make a difference!" he said.

Phil Clarke, lead consultant, roads and transportation services for Fife Council, confirmed a penalty charge notice was issued to Mr Dick’s vehicle on January 23.

"At the time, the disabled bay was clearly marked and disabled parking bays should only be used by blue badge-holders," he said. "After receiving a penalty charge notice, Mr Dick contacted us and requested the removal of the disabled bay. We have no record of any previous request to have the bay removed.

"In many cases where residents advise us that bays are no longer required, they are reallocated to another blue badge-holding resident or continue to be used by other blue badge-holders.

"All disabled bays should be kept clear for blue badge-holders, which includes both residents and visitors to the area. Six months is our standard timetable for bay removal as these are done in batches.

"This also gives time for us to reallocate a disabled bay to another resident, so avoiding the need to remove a bay only to then have to re-mark it."