Two Welling mechanics were slapped with a parking fine after a half-finished bus stop was reportedly painted around their parked car.

Alan Sinclair and Andrew Chalmers, owners of A&A Motors in Upper Wickham Lane, say they were left gobsmacked after they went to collect their shared car from nearby Elsa Road - only to find it parked in a semi-painted bus stop.

News Shopper:
Picture of the (bus) stop in Elsa Road

The duo have owned the business for the past 20 years and claim they have never received a parking ticket until last Friday (June 24).

Speaking to News Shopper, Mr Sinclair said: “It’s real.

"Over the weekend they have painted in the word ‘bus’ but they [Bexley Council] still haven’t finished off the lines.

“I’m not being funny, they have to be sort of mentally challenged.

“They should know the law. There’s no lines on the kerb.

“It is a bit unbelievable but then again, it’s not, in this day and age.

“You read about these stories and laugh.”

He added: “If the lines are not finished and not completed it was not illegally parked.

“They put a bus sign up in the bay, for some unknown reason, they just put ‘stop’ and over the weekend they have painted the word ‘bus’.

“I’m just waiting for a proper answer."

Fortunately, the pair have a sense of humour and have been able to see the funny side of the £55 fine, which would have increased to £110 if it was not paid within two weeks.

After appealing against the council's decision, the pair have won their case and the parking ticket has been dropped. 

However, they are concerned that the bigger issue of parking in the street is getting worse.

News Shopper:
The mechanics have taken the fine up with the council

The men believe that because of the new bus stops being installed, parking is being lost in the area.

Mr Sinclair said: “You got to have a sense of humour really.

“It is funny to be fair, it breaks the day up, but it’s a residential road, no one uses their garages - they’re too old and small so everyone has to park on the curbs.

“Parking is at a premium at the moment.

“You’re looking at about 20 spaces taken away from the bus stops.

“We can’t actually trade properly because there is no where to park up, that’s the biggest gripe we have really.”

In total, 12 bus stops have been erected since 2015 but the council believes that more spaces have been gained rather than lost. 

A spokeswoman for Bexley Council said: "We investigated this complaint and found the car in situ and that the bus stop had been newly painted and was 90 per cent complete.  

"It was obvious from the markings that the area had been designated a bus stop but because it was newly painted we did not issue a ticket at this point.  

"24 hours later the car was still in situ and was still causing a hazard and at this point we issued a ticket.  

"The owner of the car has subsequently appealed against this, via our online appeals process, and following an investigation their ticket has now been cancelled."