Red Route - Good deed bites me in arse.

Red Route - Good deed bites me in arse.

Author
Discussion

CoreyDog

Original Poster:

709 posts

89 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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Morning all,

Basically this morning Nottingham tram network ground to a halt. Other half rang me to collect her from tram stop and take her into town to go to work (8.20). When picking her up, elderly couple approach car asking if I'm heading into town as they had a train at 9.17 and obviously trams are not working. Said I'd give them a lift to train station.

Well took 45 minutes to get into town (Trams down traffic was chaos). Took usual route to train station where I know used to be able to get into the drop off area for station however they have changed all the road layout, made the road a red route and barriers across so cant get into drop off area. They had about 7 minutes to catch the train so if I had gone all the way back around, missed train. Decided to stop to let them out.

Quick Google shows they have fitted cameras and are dishing out fines to people who stop on the route (No suprise there). No signage at all warning of the changes or would have pulled off earlier into the main car park and dropped them there. To say I'm irritated is an understatement.

I know youre allowed to stop to drop off passengers who hold a blue badge, they certainly would have had a blue badge (Both easily late 80s early 90s) yet I didn't get there names or any details.

Basically, is my good deed going to cost, if so, anyone know how much?

Thanks ladies and gents for reading my venting!

Solocle

3,247 posts

83 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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Don't know my legal stuff, but I'm pretty sure that a good deed like that would make a good impression in court.

CoreyDog

Original Poster:

709 posts

89 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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Solocle said:
Don't know my legal stuff, but I'm pretty sure that a good deed like that would make a good impression in court.
Thanks.

Problem is though, technically I committed the offence of stopping on the red route, I have no way of proving they held a blue badge.

Think a court would still find against me on that basis. All I have is mitigation which wouldn't lower any fine.

Looks like I'll be paying the reduced rate (whatever that is) and no longer giving lifts to Nottingham Train Station.

Wait Here Until Green Light Shows

15,186 posts

199 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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In London the fine is £65 if paid within 14 days. No points or anything.

kev b

2,708 posts

165 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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This sort of thing is why I avoid Nottingham, confusing, badly signed, ever changing road protocols to the exclusion of common sense.

It seems motorists aren't wanted in Nottingham so I will comply and spend my money elsewhere.

CoreyDog

Original Poster:

709 posts

89 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
quotequote all
kev b said:
This sort of thing is why I avoid Nottingham, confusing, badly signed, ever changing road protocols to the exclusion of common sense.

It seems motorists aren't wanted in Nottingham so I will comply and spend my money elsewhere.
Couldn't agree more. I moved to Nottingham around 3 years ago from Leeds and the road network down here is appauling, Leeds isn't great but far better than Nottingham. Due to the mess Nottingham Council made of it, the traffic flow is worse here than most cities I travel to and around.

Haven't driven into Nottingham since February, I live about 15 minutes drive away in Hucknall.

The tram network is supposed to be good yet for the past 6 weeks, it's useless. Constant broken down trams meaning the whole network just stops. Hence the reason for this morning's little adventure.

catso

14,771 posts

266 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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CoreyDog said:
Basically, is my good deed going to cost, if so, anyone know how much?
Most probably, I live near Nottingham and they are ruthless, moneygrabbers when it comes to traffic enforcement of all types.

My Son has had a couple of bus lane fines, they send a picture along with it and you can view it all online (they are efficient at this). IIRC my Son's fine was £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.

CoreyDog

Original Poster:

709 posts

89 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
quotequote all
catso said:
CoreyDog said:
Basically, is my good deed going to cost, if so, anyone know how much?
Most probably, I live near Nottingham and they are ruthless, moneygrabbers when it comes to traffic enforcement of all types.

My Son has had a couple of bus lane fines, they send a picture along with it and you can view it all online (they are efficient at this). IIRC my Son's fine was £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.
Well looks like going to cost me £35 then. Better than the London rate by sound of it at least.

Just annoyed there is no signage at all to warn you. Drive past main car park and suddenly barriers and red lines. Came into force in May apparently. So around 2 months since I last even ventured into the City, let alone down near the train station. Even the old signages are still in place along Maid Marion Way directing you to the drop off you can no longer get into!

Roofless Toothless

5,612 posts

131 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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I wouldn't put money on them having a blue badge.

When they rebuilt my face after removing half of my lower jaw because of cancer, they used the smaller bone that runs from my left knee to ankle, plus a big helping of skin and flesh to construct a gum, of sorts.

Once I got at all mobile, I not only have to use a stick, but have a bit of trouble getting in and out of cars as I can't swivel at all on my left foot. I need a wider parking bay so I can open the car door right up and back myself into the seat.

So I applied for a blue badge. The nice lady had a tick box questionnaire to fill in, none of the questions on which were relevant to my plight. All they wanted to know was how far I could walk without getting out of breath. I even had to walk up and down the street a bit to be assessed. All the time she was asking if I was out of breath. I said that I'd like to be able to walk far enough or fast enough to get out of breath - that wasn't the point.

End result, refused blue badge.

It really winds me up to see youngsters turning up at the supermarket and parking with what I suspect to be grannie's badge (yes, I know, you can't always tell ...) and be denied one myself. I suspect they go to people who know how to play the game. Friends asked me why I just didn't say I was out of breath at the assessment. You know, it never occurred to me to lie.

geeks

9,121 posts

138 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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Roofless Toothless said:
I wouldn't put money on them having a blue badge.

When they rebuilt my face after removing half of my lower jaw because of cancer, they used the smaller bone that runs from my left knee to ankle, plus a big helping of skin and flesh to construct a gum, of sorts.

Once I got at all mobile, I not only have to use a stick, but have a bit of trouble getting in and out of cars as I can't swivel at all on my left foot. I need a wider parking bay so I can open the car door right up and back myself into the seat.

So I applied for a blue badge. The nice lady had a tick box questionnaire to fill in, none of the questions on which were relevant to my plight. All they wanted to know was how far I could walk without getting out of breath. I even had to walk up and down the street a bit to be assessed. All the time she was asking if I was out of breath. I said that I'd like to be able to walk far enough or fast enough to get out of breath - that wasn't the point.

End result, refused blue badge.

It really winds me up to see youngsters turning up at the supermarket and parking with what I suspect to be grannie's badge (yes, I know, you can't always tell ...) and be denied one myself. I suspect they go to people who know how to play the game. Friends asked me why I just didn't say I was out of breath at the assessment. You know, it never occurred to me to lie.
You may wish to appeal that, a blue badge should not be issued on that basis, local rag would be a good place to go next if you get no joy!

Alucidnation

16,810 posts

169 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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The blue badge malarky is just down to luck i think.

I know someone (admittedly over 70 but quite able), get one as he has, over the years developed a badly deformed ankle from a previous injury years ago.

He can still walk on it un aided and does not get out of breath.

Go figure.

Roofless Toothless

5,612 posts

131 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
quotequote all
You are both right. Perhaps I'll look into it again. At the time I couldn't get away from the place quick enough. (See what I did there? smile) It left me feeling a bit stupid and unsupported while I was already trying to adjust to what was described to me as a life changing operation. I never mentioned above how my face felt at this time either ... cry


Alucidnation

16,810 posts

169 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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I bet.

Get back down there and try again, especially as if your first attempt was some time ago.

Good luck!

thumbup

geeks

9,121 posts

138 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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Go for it Roofless, if I can help let me know, wife is disabled and had to fight like feck for hers, it transformed her independence!

Terminator X

14,921 posts

203 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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If you get a ticket etc contest it. At least make the tts work for their £70 or so.

TX.

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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Roofless Toothless said:
You are both right. Perhaps I'll look into it again. At the time I couldn't get away from the place quick enough. (See what I did there? smile) It left me feeling a bit stupid and unsupported while I was already trying to adjust to what was described to me as a life changing operation. I never mentioned above how my face felt at this time either ... cry
Just do it mate - sounds like you need one much more than most people I see parked with them!

The whole process is spoilt by jobsworths! mad

My mother was given a Blue Badge in her 80s because she couldn't walk without a stick and got breathless very quickly. Her original application was supported by a medical prepared by her GP confirming she had 2 knee replacements before she was 70, and a defective heart valve (inoperable) which caused the loss of breath and yet she got sent a 7 page medical form to fill in to renew her badge in 2013 when she was 91!

Which of those conditions does the London Borough in question expect to have magically improved at that age?

Please re-apply, and if you get turned down remember local press and social media are your friends!

Good luck! thumbup

DocSteve

718 posts

221 months

Wednesday 19th July 2017
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Turn to 2:47 for amusement re: disabled parking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpUb93vTV0o

As per the OP I found myself in the same position recently when picking my wife up although it was quiet so turned round shortly after the traffic lights. There were three cars including two taxis doing the same thing as me at the same time, which I expect will cause problems at busier times. I wonder if they put the central divide in to stop people trying to turn right out of the drop off zone at busy times and causing an obstruction (without thinking about the downstream consequences).

I've been in Nottingham since 1998 and road design has depressingly deteriorated. I recall some very quick late night times achieved in a Renault 11 between NCH and QMC on the ring road; the SPECS cameras there heralded the beginning of problems. And don't mention the stupid cycle route project on Castle Blvd (and I am a cyclist)....

99dndd

2,079 posts

88 months

Wednesday 19th July 2017
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CoreyDog said:
Well looks like going to cost me £35 then. Better than the London rate by sound of it at least.

Just annoyed there is no signage at all to warn you. Drive past main car park and suddenly barriers and red lines. Came into force in May apparently. So around 2 months since I last even ventured into the City, let alone down near the train station. Even the old signages are still in place along Maid Marion Way directing you to the drop off you can no longer get into!
Get a picture of those signs with today's newspaper and contest it.

donkmeister

7,998 posts

99 months

Wednesday 19th July 2017
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Wrong thread sorry!

wack

2,103 posts

205 months

Friday 21st July 2017
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99dndd said:
CoreyDog said:
Well looks like going to cost me £35 then. Better than the London rate by sound of it at least.

Just annoyed there is no signage at all to warn you. Drive past main car park and suddenly barriers and red lines. Came into force in May apparently. So around 2 months since I last even ventured into the City, let alone down near the train station. Even the old signages are still in place along Maid Marion Way directing you to the drop off you can no longer get into!
Get a picture of those signs with today's newspaper and contest it.
There's your get out of jail free card