A disabled ex-serviceman is worried he will not be able to afford heating over Christmas after receiving five fines for driving in a bus lane in the past five weeks.

Pensioner Zigi Sinnetta, 74, lives in Glebe Court in Mitcham, and says that roadworks in the area mean that the safest way for him to turn into Raleigh Gardens is to drive briefly through the bus lane outside the old Tesco Express in London Road.

Wimbledon Times:

Mr Sinnetta said he drives through the end of the bus line for 'about three seconds'

However, since new automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras were installed five weeks ago, Mr Sinnetta has been inundated with fines totalling £700.

Mr Sinnetta, who drives a specially adapted car, said: “I have never had an accident in my life. I’m a very cautious driver. I never drive in bus lanes normally, but it’s the only way to turn safely.

“I go into the last 10 feet of the bus lane for about three seconds. I don’t even think the bus stop is being used anymore.

“If I was causing an obstruction, I would put my hands up, but I’m not. I’m just trying to travel safely in a system that doesn’t work. It’s madness.”

Wimbledon Times:

Mr Sinnetta is worried he will not be able to afford to celebrate Christmas

He added: “I don’t have £700 to pay for these tickets. I’m a pensioner. I’m disabled. I can’t pay these fines.

“If I had to pay, I would have no heating, no food, no Christmas.

 “I’m going to offer to pay a pound a week. There’s no more I can do.”

A spokeswoman for Merton Council said: “The council takes a firm but fair approach to enforcing parking contraventions and we have published all our rules on enforcement in our parking charter, which we have made publicly available on our website.

“Enforcement helps to ease traffic congestion, one of the top concerns of our residents.

“The road markings at the end stretch of the London Road bus lane clearly show where vehicles that want to move into the left hand lane, for the compulsory turn into Raleigh Gardens, may do so safely.”

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