A PARISH councillor has spoken of her anger after getting a parking fine from the same authority she says was at fault over a planning meeting overrunning its time.

Sharon Richardson of Dalton-le-Dale Parish Council has paid her £25 fine in protest after Durham County Council officials rejected her challenge.

The councillor was fined after successfully arguing against plans by Bellway Homes to build 134 new homes on farmland between Seaham and her village.

She said: “Can’t the county council have a bit of compassion and decency? It is the council’s fault I did not get back to my car in time.

“I was advised to be at County Hall for 1pm when planning applications would start to be heard and told that we should be on at about 2pm.”

Cllr Richardson said there was no parking at County Hall and she had to park at a spot that gave her three hours.

The first application was contentious and went well over time, while the second also overran its time, she added.

“The application I was speaking against did not start until about 3.20pm – well delayed from the time we were advised.

“Council officers should have known the other applications were controversial and would overrun.”

Cllr Richardson said when she got back to her car after 4pm, she explained her predicament to the enforcement officer, but she was still fined. Her challenge to the council was rejected.

She said: “I have paid the £25 in protest, because I can only appeal once the amount reaches £50."

County council head of transport, Adrian White said: “Meetings can overrun, especially those where members of the public, who have a democratic right to, choose to speak on matters which they feel affect them and their communities.

“Parking fines and rules apply to all drivers.

“There are some instances with mitigating circumstances when we do overturn a ticket but unfortunately a meeting which overruns isn’t one of them.”