Swindon family's outrage over parking fine for grandmother after death

Helen Thompson was a regular volunteer at the Survivor charity shop in the town centre.

On Friday, November 11, 2022, Helen died after suffering a heart attack in the shop, leaving her possessions behind including her car which was parked on Sanford Street.

“We went to the hospital and the police gave over her possessions including her car keys,” said her son, who wishes to remain anonymous.

“My 18-year-old daughter went to look for the car on that same night and found it at around 7:45pm on Sanford Street, just 15 minutes after knowing we would have to search for it.”

When the family located the car, they discovered that a parking ticket had been left on the vehicle earlier that evening.

Helen worked for the council as a carer for 34 years during her career. (Image: Helen Thompson)

“The police told me to explain the scenario to the council and it would get sorted,” said the 43-year-old son.

“I rang the council a couple of days later and I explained everything in writing via a contact box but I got an email saying that they could not revoke the parking tickets.

“I was told that if I sent a copy of her death certificate and the V5 (vehicle logbook) that the ticket may be able to get cancelled.”

Swindon Borough Council claim that they never received documentation confirming the 76-year-old's death but her son said that he sent both her vehicle logbook and death certificate on November 29, as soon as requested.

“They never responded and never bothered with me,” he said.

“I feel let down by the council that they never responded and there was no empathy or sympathy throughout, it was just a scripted email with a couple of the words changed.”

Helen spent her later years volunteering at the Survivor charity shop located in Swindon town centre. (Image: Newsquest)

Following this, the family decided to pay the £25 parking ticket fine to be done with the whole unwanted affair.

“I didn’t feel I had to pay it because of the circumstances, but I did not need the extra hassle after I had just lost my mum,” said Mrs Thompson’s son.

“I think it is disgusting to be honest. When someone passes away, things are bound to be left behind and the car is no different in this scenario.”

Mrs Thompson, a born and bred Swindonian, had worked for the council as a carer for 34 years during her career.

“She used to give up her Christmas most years so that the younger council staff could have their Christmas off,” said her son.

“She gave a lot to the council and this is how they repay her. There is no common sense of sensitivity.”

Helen's family found the car with a parking ticket on the day of her death. (Image: Swindon Borough Council)

Councillor Kevin Parry, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Waste Collection and Disposal & Highways Maintenance, said: “We would like to extend our sympathies to Mr Thompson and completely understand his frustrations.

“In rare cases like this, we would cancel a penalty charge notice if the owner or driver of the vehicle has passed away, subject to receiving copies of the necessary documentation.

“Unfortunately, we cannot find any record of the documents Mr Thompson submitted, which is why he has had no further correspondence from us.

“Our Parking Management and Enforcement team remain eager to help him, however, and will be making contact with him to ensure this gets resolved as quickly as possible.”

If the issue is resolved, and the money returned, the family know exactly what they will do with the reimbursed parking fee.

“If we get the money back, it will go to a charity anyway,” said Mrs Thompson’s son.

“The money is not an issue, it is the principle.”