AN EXETER couple who received a penalty notice for on-road parking in Sidmouth on FolkWeek Sunday, have had an appeal rejected by East Devon District Council.

AN EXETER couple who received a penalty notice for on-road parking in Sidmouth on FolkWeek Sunday, have had an appeal rejected by East Devon District Council.

Tony Stevens and Sarah Lake parked their Ford Focus car on Sunday, August 2, on a single yellow line in Vicarage Road.

Normally parking restrictions only apply on this stretch of road Mondays to Saturdays.

Mr Stevens said he had parked numerous times on single yellow lines on Sunday without any problem.

"We did not see any road signs to inform us otherwise. Where we parked was safe and of no hazard or obstruction to anyone.

"We felt the penalty was particularly unfair, mainly because the yellow line rule is a rule that really should stay the same in any situation.

"If not we should be notified with adequate signage or for the spaces to be under double lines."

He said numerous people had parked on the opposite curb, causing hazards for pedestrians or the disabled, who had not been booked.

On walking along the road, he spotted a sign stating no parking between 10-4, but thought this applied to the right, not left-hand side of the road.

He felt other people would have been caught out because of "inadequate" signage.

An EDDC spokesman said: "The Civil Enforcement Officer who issued the PCN also took a photograph of the sign - at the time he issued the notice.

"This clearly shows an arrow pointing towards the spot where this gentleman's car was parked, so confirming that the car was parked in contravention of the regulations and the driver should have been aware of this at the time the vehicle was left at this spot.

"We can confirm that our appeals office will not be allowing the appeal and the notice stands."

He said Mr Stevens had since paid the fine.