TRAFFIC bosses were slammed today for refusing to waive a parking fine on a pensioner which was issued outside a GP's surgery just three weeks before his wife died.

The fixed penalty notice was slapped on Eric Johnson's car after he had parked on yellow lines while taking his wife Mary to Montague Health Centre, Blackburn.

Mr Johnson, 76, of Swallowfields, Blackburn, paid the fine, but later wrote to parking chiefs in mitigation and to inform them that 77-year-old Mary had since died in Queen's Park Hospital of a rare blood vessel disorder.

But he has received a "standard letter" back saying the £20 fine would not be waived.

His furious son, Clive Johnson, a consultant chest physician based in Burnley and Pendle, has written to the criminal justice support department at Blackburn Police Station, which has the power to waive fines, to vent his fury.

He said: "My father did not deny that he had parked on a yellow line. But I would have thought his circumstances were such that there was every reason to revoke the fine.

"Parking in that area is very difficult and because of my mother's ill-health he parked on a yellow line.

"I feel that they have taken a remarkably callous attitude towards an elderly man concerned about his ailing wife who subsequently died. "I also feel that he deserves a personal reply from them, apologising for this appalling method of treatment.

"The money does not matter, it is the principle. I am amazed the fine has not been waived."

He said his father had parked directly outside the health centre because his mother was "breathless" and the nearest car-park was a good walk away.

Days later Mr Johnson was issued with a second parking fine in similar circumstances at Blackburn Royal Infirmary, but that was waived by hospital chiefs.

Senior traffic warden George Lord said: "As far as the traffic wardens are concerned, if we come across a vehicle which is parked illegally we deal with it accordingly.

"It is as simple as that. We don't know who the driver is or why the car is parked there.

"If the offenders wish to write to the criminal justice support department at the police station to ask for the prosecution to be waived that is up to them."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.