A CAMPIGNER is claiming victory after council bosses agreed to put disabled parking bays outside Colne Municipal Hall following a battle over a parking ticket.

Steve Allen, who is registered disabled, successfully challenged the a £30 parking ticket issued when he parked outside the hall for two and a half hours in October.

Parkwise, which runs the parking scheme on behalf of Pendle Council, cancelled Mr Allen's fine after admitting it was issued in error.

And Pendle Council said the pick up and drop off sign, above a set of double yellow lines, was not enforceable against disabled badge holders.

Mr Allen, of Burrell Avenue, Colne, also fought successfully to have the parking sign removed because it was advisory and unenforceable.

Councillors have now also agreed to put two disabled parking bays as near to Albert Road as possible after the 53-year-old contacted them over the matter.

Mr Allen, who has asthma, emphysema, two heart conditions and back injuries, parks near the hall because he has problems walking distances and his wife is also disabled.

He parked on the double yellow lines to attend an ABBA tribute ban concert at the hall on October 19 and left his car there for just under three hours, which disabled badge holders are allowed to do by law The campaigner said: "I am pleased that they will be putting in disabled parking bays.

"I have had words just after the sign was removed.

"I think if you persevere and you believe in something you can change things for the better.

"I have had to be stubborn and stand my ground a number of times to get the result."

Mr Allen is now looking into the legality of a loading bay in nearby Market Street after encountering parking problems while visiting the nearby doctors surgery.

Coun Howard Thomas, who put forward the proposal at a meeting of Colne Committee, said: "Everyone has had the email by Mr Allen when he got the ticket for parking, although it is disputed whether this was a bay.

"This brought to light the lack of disabled parking near the front of the Muni.

"There is a need to provide disabled parking bays.

"I move that we provide two parking bays as near to Albert Road as possible as we can without spoiling the turning circle.