A “LUCRATIVE” parking space where a private company dishes out fines should actually be enforced by Barnet Council, documents show.

A number of drivers have been ordered to pay up to £100 by Parking Control Management for parking in the loading bay outside Sainsbury’s in Grahame Park Way, Colindale.

But a report into parking in Colindale written in August 2015 says the 13 spaces in the street should in fact be managed by Barnet Council.

Parking guru Derek Dishman said: “It’s a very confusing location for the public and it’s unfortunate the council have been so slow to adopt the road.

“This has given the land owner and the private parking company the opportunity to make hay while the sun shines.

“Let’s hope the council brings the curtain down on this unfair, lucrative spot as soon as possible.”

There are 122 car parking spaces on the Grahame Park Estate – 28 of which are in the public highway.

These include eight spaces in Lower Strand, seven in Great Strand and the 13 spaces in Grahame Park Way.

Ruth Fluss, of Parkside Gardens, Edgware, was fined by the private firm because she stopped to answer her phone for less than three minutes.

While there are signs warning people against parking there, they have been described as too high up to see.

The grandmother, who cares for her husband, David, a retired vet who has dementia, was ticketed on a Sunday in March – but her appeal was rejected.

She said: “The area was completely empty and I was there for a matter of minutes. I didn’t even get out of my car.

“I couldn’t see the signs from where I was parked and had no idea you couldn’t stop there. Plus, it was a Sunday so no loading happens there.

“I answered the call because I was worried it would be to do with David. It makes me angry because if I’d used the phone without pulling over, I would have got in trouble for committing a crime.”

Last year, the Times Series spoke to Denise Silversteen, of Mount Grove, Edgware, who was also fined for parking in the same area.

The 69-year-old said: “I realised the signs were there after someone pointed them out but they are very inconspicuous, and if you were looking at them from a normal level, you wouldn’t see anything.”

People have also complained about the matter on Google Reviews.

One woman wrote: “My OAP parents have just been landed with a parking fine of £100. It’s all very fishy. There’s no clear sign it’s no parking. Just a small hidden sign of the side of the flats.”

A Barnet Council spokesperson, who the authority refused to name, said: “The parking space next to Sainsbury’s on Grahame Park Way is currently owned by Choices for Grahame Park Limited.

"The space is designated as a loading bay and as the parking ticket was not issued by the council we are unable to comment on it.”

The Times Series has requested comment from Parking Control Management.