Fife woman's parking space of 40 years hit by council order

Annika Norton had objected to a plan to adopt the area outside her home on Abbeywall Road, Pittenweeem.

Fife Council described the fact the footway was not adopted as "an anomaly.”

However, Mrs Norton asked for the council not to adopt the area where she has parked with permission from neighbours, since 1979.

In a letter to the local authority, she wrote: "I have used this area to park my car openly, peaceably and without interruption since May 1979.

"I would be very grateful if you would be kind enough to consider my request to continue to allow me to park as it would greatly assist me in my day-to-day living."

Officers told the North East Area Committee that allowing this to continue would be detrimental to road safety, adding that the parking contravenes existing double-yellow-line restrictions.

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Councillors agreed and moved to approve the adoption of the pavement without obliging Mrs Norton's request. Officers said she could seek to have a disabled parking space created if she satisfied the requirements.

Cllr BIll Porteous (Scottish Liberal Democrat, East Neuk and Landward) said: "The fact someone has used that location for many, many years still does not change the situation with regard to the legality.

"If that person requires for health or fitness reasons a suitable parking place they could apply in the normal way."

Mrs Norton said she would speak to her solicitor prior to making any comment.

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