A PENSIONER has hit back at claims from Barnet's parking supremo “everyone” has a mobile phone after receiving a ticket for parking in a bay with a broken meter.

William Moller, 81, got a fine on December 30 parking in Brent Street, Hendon, for parking in a bay to do some grocery shopping but not using the pay-by-phone system to get a ticket.

The Kings Close resident appealed the ticket on the grounds he does not own a mobile phone so was not able to use the new payment method, but was turned down.

In a council meeting on January 26 Councillor Brian Coleman, who is in charge of parking, said: “I do not accept in this day and age any one who is a car driver does not have access to a mobile phone.”

Mr Moller said: “What Mr Coleman said was a lot of nonsense. I'm 81 and rely on my car to get me around, but I'm going to have to consider where I go to shop in the future.

“I should not have to hunt around to find somewhere to park at my age. It's unbelievable.

“It seems to me there are a lot more meters out of order now, are the council not trying to fix them?

Not everyone has a mobile and I don't see why I should have to get one to park in Barnet.”

At the same council meeting Cllr Coleman said he hoped to follow in the footsteps of the City of Westminster and make Barnet “completely cashless”.

Barnet Council said they would “consider any mitigating circumstances in an appeal”.