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Adam Shaw & Graeme Murray & Chloe Burrell

Dad fined for driving outside own house after road turned into 'school street'

A 'stressed' dad was fined for driving outside of his own house after the road was turned into a " school street".

Abdul Noormohamed was handed five fines for using the road outside of his house during "restricted hours".

The school streets zone initiative is aiming to limit vehicle use during school times, The Mirror reports.

It meant that Mr Noormohamed received the fines in an area covered during a trial period in 2020.

Abdul, of London, said that he felt like he was "living in a prison" on his own road.

Neighbours have also taken a longer route home to avoid the cameras.

He said: “I don’t understand what’s gone on. They’re sending fines to someone who lives in the zone, surely they can see that isn’t right if we’re supposed to be exempt?

“My head is spinning, it’s caused so much extra effort and stress. We can’t have visitors, we don’t get deliveries.

"It’s got to the point now where we’re scared to go out on the road. It’s like being a prisoner in your own home. I’m not usually one to complain – sometimes it’s just easier to pay the fine. But this is just crazy.”

Abdul Noormohamed received five tickets for entering a ‘school streets’ zone during restricted hours (Adam Shaw)

Abdul explained that he registered his vehicles when the council put a trial scheme in place at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

When this was made permanent, he was told he would not need to register again.

Mr Noormohamed said he has raised the issue with Harrow Council but has been met with little helpful advice.

He said the authority did cancel the initial fine, but has since sent him four more tickets.

But after refusing to pay these, he received further letters threatening court action.

All the fines have been linked to his family car.

The van, which Abdul says has been through the area during the restricted hours, has escaped being ticketed.

Abdul said he relies on his car as his family regularly travel to after-school activities, the mosque and to visit friends and family.

The School Streets scheme, which fines unauthorised drivers for using Marlborough Hill between 8am and 9.30am and 2.30pm and 4pm, has also impacted on people visiting him.

Abdul said: “My house is usually very active, my door is always open. I’d have people coming and going all day every day, but I can’t anymore as they’re scared of getting fined.”

The scheme, he said, would stop him hosting large celebrations, which is very common in Asian culture.

He said: “What are we supposed to tell people? That they can’t come to my home?

"That they have to fight to find a parking space somewhere else and then walk?”

Adul and his neighbours said the restrictions simply force cars onto other nearby roads, simply shunting pollution onto others.

And there are concerns around the signs warning drivers that they cannot use the street by the school at certain times and would be unaware until the last minute and could be forced to brake in the middle of the road.

Several school streets schemes were approved in Harrow following consultation with residents and schools.

The Marlborough School scheme is scheduled to be reassessed after it received mixed feedback.

Harrow Conservatives’ leader Cllr Paul Osborn said it was important to make the right call on this scheme to avoid changing it at a later date if it proved unpopular.

Other traffic measures in the borough, such as pop-up cycle lanes and low-traffic neighbourhoods, were removed after they faced strong opposition from residents, costing the council £75,000.

A Harrow Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of this case and are working with the resident to help resolve the issue.”

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