June 27, 2008
MANEA: Taxi driver hits back after altercation involving Fenland councillor
THE taxi driver who was involved in altercations with a Fenland councillor says he had every right to park on a single yellow line - his son and wife are disabled badge holders.
But Steve Jones added that the argument could have been avoided had the school offered the teaching support his son Nathan needed.
Manea resident Mr Jones clashed with village councillor Mark Archer - the only independent member of Fenland District Council - two weeks ago when he was parked outside the school.
Mr Jones said his wife Karen is registered disabled after a history of ankle problems and son Nathan is now registered disabled, after falling two years behind classmates with dyslexia, dyspraxia and visual dyslexia.
Mr Jones said: "Before people come and have a go at us for parking on a single yellow line, they need to know we can because Karen and Nathan hold a blue badge."
Mr Jones, of Charlemont Drive, is a registered taxi driver in East Hertfordshire. He has not worked since December, after a catalogue of problems for Nathan at school, but has kept his licence in case he returns to work.
Nathan was a pupil at Manea Primary School, but was pulled out three weeks ago and is set to be enrolled at a specialist school near Biggleswade to catch up with schoolwork. Mr Jones claims Nathan was never given the support he needed.
Mr Jones said: "Nathan is petrified of going anywhere near the school. Any other day I would have parked in the village hall car park but Nathan was in the car while I took my daughter Molly to school and asked me to park somewhere he could see me.
"Cllr Archer came up to the car afterwards and kept asking why I was parked there. If you know the law, a person with a disabled badge can park on a single yellow line. Only the day before a woman had a go at Karen for doing the same thing.
"But I never followed Mark, I went to the shop shortly afterwards when he drove past - I did follow him and flashed my lights, but because I wanted to explain my side of the story and he wouldn't have it. He just said I was parked illegally and was going to report me to police, but if he knew the trouble we had with the school for the last 10 months he would have understood.
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