Former mayor Neil Furey has welcomed the news that Brookside Retirement Living has suspended its visitor car parking enforcement by Parking Eye until planning permission has been granted.

This morning, the Skem.North councillor told QLocal: "I welcome the news that enforcement of these controversial car parking restrictions have been suspended by Parking Eye.

"Not for the first time Parking Eye commenced enforcement action without bothering to organise the necessary planning permission from the Council.

"Enforcement of visitor car parking restrictions at this site has proved to be controversial and was in effect a trap and sting operation, with visitors being invited to the site to attend clinical appointments after which they promptly received a £100.00 Penalty Charge Notice and threats of court action in the event of non-payment.

"A number of elderly and disabled people contacted me about these demands who clearly had no idea the restrictions applied to them as patrons of the site. These PCN's have now been cancelled.

"As enforcement action has now been suspended I trust both Brookside Retirement Living and Parking Eye will examine this scheme carefully towards ensuring patrons attending appointments at the site are not issued with PCN's in the future."