A MOTORIST says bailiffs appointed by City of York Council are threatening to seize his family car following a lengthy dispute over a parking fine.

James Dakin, of Skirpenbeck, near Stamford Bridge, claimed an enforcement agency was still threatening to visit his home and seize goods, despite recent promises by a council official to put bailiff action on hold.

He said the dispute dated back to last May when he parked his car completely legally in Knavesmire Road near the race course on May 12 and collected it four days later on a race meeting day after working away all week.

He said temporary parking restrictions were applied that day because of the race meeting, resulting in him being given a penalty charge notice, but there had been no warning of such restrictions when he parked there.

"It seemed totally unfair to penalise someone for something that they couldn’t have known about," he said.

He claimed the council had not responded to any of his letters asking for an explanation for the fine and he felt it had treated him with a lack of care and professionalism.

"I have had to reassure my wife that someone will not try and enter our property and remove our belongings this week while she is at home with two small children."

However, a spokeswoman for the authority said its processes complied with the Traffic Management Act 2004 and civil enforcement of parking regulations, and the council had done everything possible to reach a resolution.

She said serving PCNs was always a last resort and the council had done everything possible to correspond with the driver of the vehicle and in this case had written to the individual on five separate occasions.

"The council did receive a response, but as this was received past the allocated timeframe for appeals, the council had no choice but to disregard this representation," she said.

"We are continuing to liaise direct with the owner of the vehicle and have sent further correspondence today, outlining the above and explaining how they can contact the Traffic Enforcement Centre direct regarding the legal options available to them."