Part 5 The Truth is Out There! **UPDATED**

After the correspondence with John Skidmore showed me that l was getting nowhere, l left it for a while. Then later on l received a package from the Tribunal with all ERYC's CPE 'evidence'. When l read it l was in total disbelief ... and angry, very angry. Read on and you will find out why. 

l've broken YE07's statement into parts and put my comments after each part in blue.

l must give thanks to the independent witnesses that were prepared to give a statement on what actually happened on the 7th August 2012. l am in your debt.

14.23 wasn't the first time the vehicle was seen, it was between 13.03 and 13.08 and that's from YE07's own log as seen here.

For Full Size ... Right Click ... then Left Click on 'Open Link in New Window'

For Full Size ... Right Click ... then Left Click on 'Open Link in New Window'

Not only did YEO7 first see the vehicle at that time between 13.03 and 13.08, she was told the vehicle was broken down and would be fixed in about 2 hrs. YE07 said 'ok' to that and left. YE07 makes no mention of the tools and equipment lying about and the vehicles doors being open.

Of course YE07 saw nobody at the vehicle ... because you can't see the vehicle, nor under the vehicle or inside the vehicle! Maybe YE07 has x-ray vision? Below is the Google map of High Brighton Street followed by photos taken in sequence whilst walking the route of YE07. For fairness l've done both sides of road. Photos correspond to numbered arrows on Google map (Sorry arrows are in black. May redo them later).

Rolf Harris would say 'Can you see it (vehicle) yet? :)

For Full Size ... Right Click ... then Left Click on 'Open Link in New Window'

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YE07 certainly hadn't seen me working on it because she couldn't see the vehicle whilst walking down the street! 

Oh so earlier at 1pm when l spoke to YE07 she didn't issue tickets to broken down vehicles then? Everything was fine then and she said it was ok about the 2hrs to fix it? (Am l glad that the neighbour sat outside in the garden had heard all that .... and now this!) What the hell had changed?

You'll note that YE07 states that she could see tools and the bonnet open :)

What had happened to ERYC's own procedures on broken down vehicles?

4.5 Breakdowns
If a vehicle has broken down in a restricted area and the driver is present then the Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO) will allow a reasonable amount of time for the vehicle to be removed. However, if a driver has left the vehicle and placed a note on the windscreen with no clear evidence of a breakdown, after the observation period then the CEO will issue a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and make a record stating that a note was present. If the breakdown is legitimate, then the driver will be able to make a written representation through the appeal process and each case will be considered based on the individual circumstances.

No clear evidence of a breakdown??? YE07 has just written it in her notebook! 

Observation period??? ... yeah right. It took her just over 6 mins to walk down High Brighton St AND issue the ticket and put it on the vehicle!

For Full Size ... Right Click ... then Left Click on 'Open Link in New Window'

No observation period like this driver/vehicle got then?

For Full Size ... Right Click ... then Left Click on 'Open Link in New Window'

That driver/vehicle got Observation entered and l get a ticket? What the hell is going on? What has changed?

HERE WE GO! The 'Mrs Neighbour from Hell'. Remember in Part 4 when John Skidmore said this in an e-mail to me?

"It also confirmed that CEO YEO07 did not visit [Neighbours from Hell], Withernsea, to discuss the situation with the residents."

Nice try John Skidmore but no cigar! As l replied to him in the e-mail l said "l never said that YE07 called at [Neighbours from Hell] , l said 'reported to'. There is a distinct difference." Maybe John Skidmore will still deny that YE07 had been talking to them and fall back on YE07 had a divine intervention and suddenly for no reason at all wrote it in her notebook?

Of course when l read this accusation of criminal damage, l was incensed. Not only was it malicious and false, John Skidmore had never said anything about it in our correspondence. What was even more worrying was had the police been informed and if so why had they not visited me?

l was straight off to the police station. l saw an officer and explained about this accusation and asked if ERYC had reported it? He said there was no report! l was amazed at this. Here ERYC had a report of criminal damage, a supposed witness and they do nothing about it? lt beggared belief! 

So l then reported it to the police! lt was logged and l got a copy. l gave the name and address of the 'Neighbours from Hell' and showed them a copy of YE07's notebook. No doubt it seems madness to report an accusation against oneself to some people but l was entirely innocent of the accusation and wanted it logged. l asked the police if they wanted to question me and they said no, so l left.

To be honest, l can't be bothered to comment on the rest of this garbage after addressing the false accusations of criminal damage . lf John Skidmore or YE07 said 'Good Morning' to me, l'd know it was time to go to bed! 

Another point is, how can Mr Knapp the Adjudicator view any 'evidence' presented by ERYC CPE as truthful given the above? 

As for YE07 not liking me taking a photo of her ... here it is again. 

No l haven't forgot about Mark Greenley. He took YE07's statement in her notebook and took it to another level completely. YE07's statement is mild by comparison. Stay tuned and as they used to say in Hill Street Blues "Hey, let's be careful out there'

Next post ... Mark Greenley 

UPDATE

I forgot to include this. YE07 returned to High Brighton Street at 15.07 and stayed for just under 25 mins. She didn't issue any parking tickets and didn't 'observe' any vehicles so what was she doing all that time? John Skidmore would no doubt say she wasn't with in the 'Neighbours from Hell' :)

For Full Size ... Right Click ... then Left Click on 'Open Link in New Window'

Part 4. The 'evasive' John Skidmore

John Skidmore and 2 Civil Enforcement Officers for 1 vehicle :)

l wrote to John Skidmore on the 17th Aug 2012. ln the correspondence l complained about YE07 and the involvement of the 'Neighbours from Hell' along with the ongoing issues with the double yellow lines that were deemed wrong in magistrates court. lt was a friendly letter and l hoped John Skidmore would respond positively and show how residents and the council can work together to resolve issues.  John Skidmore acted magnanimously and resolved everything!  .... sorry, l was dreaming there for a moment :)

With John Skidmore you have to look at what he doesn't say and the questions he ignores rather than what he does say. l don't say he lies, he's just somewhat conservative with the truth shall we say.

Amongst the numerous correspondence between John Skidmore and myself he had said at the beginning in his first response of 23rd Aug 2012 that the complaint against YE07 would be addressed. (Note.... a lot of the content of our correspondence got side-tracked onto the legalities of the double yellow lines down High Brighton Street. That being so, l'll leave that out for moment whilst we deal with the parking ticket. We shall do a section on this at a later date).

By the 27th Sept, l had still heard nothing about the complaint regarding YE07 so l wrote to him again :-

To: John.Skidmore@****************

Sent: Thursday, 27 September 2012, 22:37

Subject: Re: Car Parking Complaint Withernsea

Dear Mr Skidmore,

                           are you saying they've lost PCN ******** informal appeal? l shall dig out the recorded delivery receipt. However none of this invalidates my complaint regarding the PCN and YE07 that l sent to you. l have still heard nothing about this. What is going on?

[text removed re personal details]

l did say l would not publish about all this and have tried very hard to keep all this amicable. lt would seem there are those that see my past actions as a sign of weakness. l can assure you that this is far from the truth.

To begin with, l would like a response to my formal complaint about the actions of YE07.

Yours,

          * **********

On the 15th Oct l finally got a response to my complaint about YE07. However 95% of John Skidmore's response had nothing to do with YE07. All there was one short paragraph and so l responded thus. l've removed the actual address of the 'Neighbours from Hell' and replaced it with the afore mentioned.

To: John.Skidmore@*******************

Sent: Tuesday, 20 November 2012, 13:30

Subject: Re: Car Parking Complaint Withernsea

Dear Mr Skidmore,

                                   l refer you to :-

'Your complaint about Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO) YE07 has been investigated and CEO YE07 has been interviewed regarding the issue. The interview process confirmed the conversation that was held between yourself and CEO YE07 prior to the serving of the PCN on your vehicle. It also confirmed that CEO YEO07 did not visit [Neighbours from Hell], Withernsea, to discuss the situation with the residents.

I hope this clarifies the situation and completes the response to your complaint.'' (John Skidmore, 15th Oct 2012)

It certainly does not clarify the situation and neither does it complete the response to my complaint.

YE07 wrongly issued a parking ticket and l want it sorting. Your own procedures regarding broken down vehicles has been blatantly ignored along with the unethical practice of YE07.

Also for your information, l never said that YE07 called at [Neighbours from Hell], l said 'reported to'. There is a distinct difference.

As stated before, l have witnesses who will corroborate my complaint. Do you really intend to drag this out and waste more time and expense with tribunals and the like?

[text removed re personal details]

l shall not comment at this time regarding the legality of the double yellow lines despite your intentional avoidance of my specific questions. l want this wrongly issued parking ticket by YE07 sorted.

Yours,

          * *********

So that one short paragraph was all there was regarding my complaint about YE07 ... and of course, the very poor attempt to deny any involvement from the 'Neighbours from Hell'. 

You remember at the beginning of this post l said it's what John Skidmore 'doesn't say' that is important? Well now we shall see in the next post what he kept back. This is now the nitty gritty and involves YE07's actual statement, copies of her electronic and written notebook and ERYC official data. This is what they sent to the Parking Tribunal of the 19th Feb 2013. lt contains false accusations against me of criminal damage and threatening abusive behaviour. None of this was reported to the police by ERYC though. l found this out when l reported it to the police!

There's also the little matter of photographic evidence that proves beyond doubt that YE07 is not averse to fairytales.

Next post  YE07's  actual 'evidence'  :)

Part 3 Neighbours from Hell

The writing was on the wall from when the 'Neighbours from Hell' first moved in. They arrived with their removals firm and a respected resident of High Brighton Street went across to offer them a welcoming cup of tea. This was rebuked by 'Mrs Neighbour from Hell' with the retort 'l have my own kettle'!

Residents tell me that they then began to receive visits or letters from various authorities in regards to complaints that were invariably petty, malicious and more importantly ... unsubstantiated. These authorities included such as the Police, ERYC, RSPCA, Traffic Warden etc. These complaints continue to this day, albeit the Traffic Warden is now replaced by ERYC's own Civil Parking Enforcement Officers.

What also became increasingly noticeable was the frequency of 'social' visits from officers etc of the various authorities to the 'Neighbours from Hell' ... often just before or just after these officers called on residents in regards to complaints received against them ... or had parking tickets put on their vehicles.

These authorities are obligated to act on all complaints. However some of the officers concerned accidentally let slip where the complaints had come from. Whether these slips of the tongue were accidents is open to speculation :) Some officers have even been very apologetic when calling on residents and one has to assume this is because they understand the situation.

l myself have to be thankful of this because l too have been subject to malicious complaints which could've easily resulted in serious consequences.A few months back l went out to empty my vehicle in High Brighton Street. The time was around 22.00 hrs and when l went to my vehicle l noticed a police vehicle parked nearby with 2 officers inside.As l opened the doors to my vehicle and started to take things out, the 2 officers got out of their vehicle and approached me. My profession involves high level security and so l was in no doubt that neither of these officers viewed me as a potential dangerous threat. Their tasers were holstered and their empty hands were nowhere near these weapons or any other weapon. They also approached me together and not from each side of the vehicle.

Am l being dramatic? No, not in the least because what they were coming to ask me about was a report that l had put a  lethal sword in my vehicle! They were very apologetic as they told me they'd had a report of me putting such a weapon in my vehicle. l'd laughed when they told me this and replied 'l take it you mean my umbrella? Shall l get it for you or do you want to search the vehicle yourself?. They replied that it was ok for me to get the umbrella. l reached in my vehicle and retrieved the umbrella and handed it to them .... again asking if they wanted to search the vehicle. They again refused.

l had noticed the 'Neighbours from Hell' curtain twitching when l'd first come out to my vehicle so l said to the officers 'l know who's done this. lt's them pathetic bastards over there isn't it? ... and pointed directly to the 'Neighbours from Hell'. l told them that 'Mr Neighbour from Hell' had seen me with the umbrella earlier in the day and so it had to be him because there was no-one else about. The officers looked a little sheepish but replied that they were not allowed to tell me who made the complaint. Again l just laughed. We then chatted for a while and then they went back to their vehicle as l went back to my vehicle and took some gear back into the house.

When l came back out they were still in their vehicle so l went over and knocked on the passenger window. They powered the window down and l said 'Promise me you won't arrest Mary Poppins because it would upset my daughters' They both laughed and l then bid them goodnight and went back into the house.

l then came back out again about 10 mins later and lo and behold, who are the policemen talking to? ... none other than 'Mr Neighbour from Hell' :)

If either of those policemen read this, you have my thanks for 'knowing your patch' so to speak.

We had a word in East Germany for people like these 'Neighbours from Hell' ... we called them 'Spitzel'

Unbeknown to myself at the time of the 'umbrella incident', 'Mrs Neighbour from Hell' had already been targeting myself to another authority ... ERYC Civil Parking Enforcement. Unlike the afore mentioned policemen, we have YE07, John Skidmore and Mark Greenley applying ethics that would be more at home with the STASI. All will be revealed in forth coming posts.

Next post ... John Skidmore

Part 2. Civil Enforcement Officer YE07

On the morning of 7th August 2012 the vehicle was parked up whilst it was unloaded of large speaker cabinets and other equipment. Once it was unloaded, it was then found that the vehicle would not start again. The time was around 12.00 midday.

(You should be made aware that where the vehicle had broken down was on an area of unrecognisable  double yellow lines, deemed unenforceable in court, at the end of High Brighton Street. Residents had successfully appealed against approx 30 parking tickets when their vehicles had been wrongly issued parking tickets.These appeals were heard in Magistrates Court as at the time it was a criminal matter and not as it is now ...Civil and in the hands of ERYC and not the police. The lines were unenforceable as they were found to be wrong and Mike Peeke, Area Engineer of ERYC admitted such in court.

Unbelievably at the Tribunal on the 19th Feb, they tried to say the vehicle was unlawfully parked whilst it was unloading. This is sheer tosh! Even if the lines had been enforceable the vehicle would still have not been unlawfully parked whilst it was unloading under the new regulations ERYC (Civil Enforcement) Order 2011 as Item 16 states and l quote:-

Nothing in Articles 9 to 12 shall render it unlawful to cause or permit to wait or park in any of the prohibited or restricted roads, lengths of roads or on the sides of road specified on the plans for so long as it may be necessary to enable goods to be loaded to or unloaded from a vehicle (or goods or merchandise to be delivered or collected)

l had to look the above up after the Tribunal on the 19th Feb 2013 as l did not expect CPE of ERYC to try this approach. l'm confident Mr Knapp the Adjudicator knows his onions though.

lt is also worth noting that ERYC tried to repaint the double yellow lines the day previously (6th August 2012) but because a vehicle was in the way they could not complete the task. The broken down vehicle was now in the position that the other vehicle had been in .... the unfinished double yellow lines being behind the rear wheels. Take note of the date of 6th August 2012 as Mr Greenley rewrites history in his 'evidence'.  We'll deal with him later)

So, back to the 7th August 2012. Whilst l was working on the broken down vehicle, Civil Enforcement Officer YE07 turns up around 1pm. The vehicle has its bonnet up, wires, parts and tools everywhere. She asks if the vehicle has broken down and l say it has.She asks how long will it take to fix and l say probably 2 hrs. She says ok and walks off.

This conversation is heard and seen by a neighbour sitting in the sunshine in their front garden which is approx only 5 metres from the vehicle. l continue to work on the vehicle and in the process make various trips to the workshop for tools and online information. The workshop (converted garage) is down a driveway off High Brighton Street and the workshop is approx 20 metres from the vehicle. After about 60 mins or so, l eventually trace the fault to the glo-plug relay which is needed in all diesel engines in order for them to run. l ring my garage to see if they have one and they say they have although it is second-hand. l arrange with them to drop it off for me.The time is just after 2pm.

l prepare the vehicle for the spare part but whilst l'm back in the workshop (time approx 2.30 pm), the neighbour in the garden comes to tell me YE07 has returned and is putting a parking ticket on the broken down vehicle! l immediately go and confront YE07 and ask her why she is doing this. She replies that she can see no evidence of work being carried out on the vehicle! The bonnet of the vehicle is till up with tools scattered about  and the side door is wide open ... YE07 is stood next to the open bonnet and she would've had to negotiate the open bonnet to put the parking ticket on the windscreen. She starts to say something else but l say 'l don't want to talk to you' and walk away to get my i-phone as l want a photo of YE07. When l return, l see YE07 has walked off and l cannot see her. l walk to the Promenade and see her walking towards town centre. l catch her up and take a photo. Little did l realise how important this photo would turn out to be. l am also thankful to the neighbour as they had just heard and seen my 2nd conversation with YE07 at the broken down vehicle.

l leave YE07 and return to the vehicle to find the garage people have arrived with the spare part. l fit the part and move the vehicle. The time is 2.45pm.

ERYC's Civil Parking Enforcement Procedures on breakdowns are :-


4.5 Breakdowns
If a vehicle has broken down in a restricted area and the driver is present then the Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO) will allow a reasonable amount of time for the vehicle to be removed. However, if a driver has left the vehicle and placed a note on the windscreen with no clear evidence of a breakdown, after the observation period then the CEO will issue a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and make a record stating that a note was present. If the breakdown is legitimate, then the driver will be able to make a written representation through the appeal process and each case will be considered based on the individual circumstances.


Next on the the agenda will be John Skidmore, Head of Street Services, ERYC and my complaint about YE07. This is the beginning of where the actual facts of the incident become unrecognisable once in the hands of John Skidmore, YE07 and Mark Greenley.

However, l believe a short post on the 'Neighbours from Hell' is needed at this point. Stay tuned!

Part 1. A Brief Overview

From the very beginning l tried to resolve this issue amicably but alas it was not to be. l don't even live down the street where it all began. Indeed, l sold up everything l owned in the UK years ago and moved abroad but still travel frequently to the UK as my family live here. l have no permanent residence within the UK and so whilst l'm here l stay with family and friends.

As it stands in the UK today, justice takes a backseat. This applies to not only parking tickets but many other facets of your everyday life. lt is no longer about whether you are guilty or not guilty, it comes plainly down to finances. Take parking tickets for instance, you are left with the choice of paying the 35 pound charge or going to a tribunal to attempt to prove your innocence. You'll have to take time off work, pay for your travel expenses and so forth. Even if you win, you will be out of pocket because you cannot claim your costs. This now is being rolled out to cover many other 'offences'.

Also you should be made aware that since Nov 2011 that there are no longer Traffic Wardens for ERYC, they are now  Civil Enforcement Officers. There is a huge difference between the two. Parking enforcement now comes under the control of ERYC and not the police. Parking offences are no longer classed as criminal but are now civil. lf you think you are better off because of this, think again!

l myself will not stand idly by and see justice simply cast aside and neither will l accept incompetence or lying. l've read many articles over the past months regarding parking ticket complaints and many have come to the conclusion that they have dealt with 'jumped up little Hitlers'. You may yourself come to the same conclusion as this story unfolds ... that will be for you to decide.

A great deal of this attitude comes about because the Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) are not easily contactable. They have a PO Box number and that is it. You won't find them on the Council website and it seems impossible to get phone numbers or e-mail addresses. My own sister works as a receptionist for another council and she refers to the CPE as the Ivory Towers.

This particular case, that we shall publish on this blog, involved the CPE Team of East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC). They put together their 'evidence' to use at a recent tribunal and it was signed by an M Greenley .... and that was all. There was no mention of his position within ERYC. l'd assumed at first he was a solicitor but after coming into contact with him yesterday (19th Feb 2013) at the tribunal l quickly changed my opinion. l've since found he is a CPE Supervisor at Suite B, Wold House, Annie Reed Road, Beverley.l truly believe that this man is either incompetent or a liar ... perhaps both! You can judge for yourself later.

This blog will publish documents from many souces including Subject Access Requests and FOI's. lt will deal mainly with the 4 most relevant people involved. CEO (Civil Enforcement Officer) YE07, John Skidmore (Head of Street Services), Mark Greenley (CPE Supervisor) and Mr Knapp (Adjudicator re Parking Appeals). Note:- am awaiting result of tribunal by post.

Other articles will include the 'Neighbours from Hell', Humberside Police on how they issued parking tickets wrongly for 19 years because ERYC had contravened parking regulations (Mr Greenley admitted they had put down double yellow lines wrongly at the tribunal. He is on an audio recording of the tribunal saying this) and of course ERYC itself. The road concerned is High Brighton Street, Withernsea and the double yellow lines that Mr Greenley admitted were wrong are at the end of High Brighton Street next to the Promenade.

Please note that ERYC is not Withernsea Town Council and you should not confuse the two. .

So, let's begin at the beginning and where it all began. Ladies and gentlemen, l give you Civil Enforcement Officer YE07 and the subject of the next post.