A WOMAN has had her parking fine at Pickmere Lake overturned.

The Bowdon resident, who asked not to be named, got a fixed penalty notice (FPN) for ‘causing an unnecessary obstruction’ on a residential road adjacent to the lake on August 21. 

She was taking her daughter and her friends there for a day out at the lake during a heatwave.

After an unsuccessful appeal against the FPN to Cheshire Police, the 47-year-old opted to fight the case in court, and received a date to appear before Crewe magistrates on December 21, 2023.

However, on Monday, October 16, she received notification to say the case had been dropped.

When she contacted the court to find out why, she was told Cheshire Police did not have enough evidence to secure a conviction.

She claims she would never have parked in a way which knowingly caused an obstruction, adding: “I knew it was complete rubbish, basically.

“I couldn’t get parked on the little tiny useless car park, so I parked - what I believed was considerately - on a residential street.

“I left plenty of room on the road, and plenty of room on the path, and I thought it would be OK.

“There was a single yellow line, but the signage says you 'may' be prosecuted or fined for causing an obstruction.

“But I wasn’t causing an obstruction, so I thought it must be fine.

“But I came back to a ticket. I felt very strongly I wasn’t going to pay it because I didn’t feel like I’d caused an obstruction.

“I sent my appeal in, but the police said they’d take me to court if I didn’t pay. I thought, ‘right, bring it on’.

“The important detail is the officer who issued the ticked had written they didn’t believe an emergency vehicle would be able to access the residential road beyond my car because of the way I’d parked.

“I even went back and measured the space, which confirmed there was enough room even for a fire engine.

“I received a court date for December 21, but while I was waiting, I’ve since been informed the case has been dismissed on grounds there’s not enough evidence to convict.

“Residents claim Pickmere is being ruined by visitors, which I totally get. Some people are inconsiderate.

“But it made me wonder – how many other people have been fined unfairly there?”

Cheshire Police said they were unable to comment on the case.

The mum-of-one says she would like to see clearer guidelines on parking around the lake.

She added: “Saying you may be prosecuted is unclear. Single yellow lines are unclear.

“If you don’t want people parking there as it’s unsafe and going to cause an obstruction to someone walking, or to an emergency vehicle, then put double yellows down.

“As it is, it feels like a bit of a honey trap.”