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A father who received a parking ticket while visiting his daughter, who had only days to live, has said the Labour council's decision to refuse his appeal was 'morally bankrupt'.
Dr Brian Farrington, 89, overstayed parking near The Christie cancer centre in Manchester in May 2024 while making funeral arrangements with his daughter Joanne, 55, who was dying.
The grandfather-of-three, from St Helens in Merseyside, said he had parked on a double yellow line as the hospital's car parks were full.
He and his wife, Joyce, who is registered blind, had just been told that Joanne had only days to live.
Dr Farrington told the BBC: 'On that very day we had to stay to get a solicitor in to draw up the will there and then, so that delayed us and that was the main reason that we were late.'
Joanne, who had been unwell for months before she was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer, died on May 15 after her condition rapidly deteriorated.
Dr Farrington and his wife travelled to Manchester every day to see their daughter.
He appealed the fine, writing in a letter to the council, seen by The Telegraph: 'This response makes me feel I should have told my dying daughter that I would have to leave her because I may get a parking ticket.
Dr Brian Farrington, 89, described Manchester City Council's initial decision not to drop the parking ticket on compassion grounds as 'morally bankrupt'
'I am bringing it [the rejection of the appeal] to your attention because it says that under no circumstances can the council use any discretion based on compassion.
'That I find appalling. Furthermore, I am bound to conclude that Christie’s parking penalty notices are an income stream for the council.
'My grief is compounded by the lack of discretion given extreme circumstances.
'Knowing how you care about cancer, you may consider this situation and let me have your response in due course.'
Instead, a council worker told Dr Farrington: 'Although I sympathise with your circumstances, I am unable to cancel your PCN for this reason.'
The grief-stricken grandfather paid the £35 fine after an initially unsuccessful appeal - but the council has agreed to refund it after he raised awareness of the incident.
Dr Farrington said: 'This isn’t about the money. It’s the principle of it – it’s morally bankrupt.'
Joanne, 55, had been unwell for months before she was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer
The grandfather said he would donate the refund to The Christie cancer centre.
A spokesman for Manchester City Council said: 'The council is aware of this case, and following a review this gentleman will be contacted and issued a refund for the ticket that was issued.'
The incident comes after Croydon Council workers painted a disabled bay around a legally parked car, then a traffic warned issued its owner with a fine.
The London-based Afrobeats artist Silvastone took to social media to share CCTV footage of the incident, which he described as 'madness'.
Croydon Council said it dropped the fines before the footage was uploaded online.
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