A pensioner has been left "confused" after being fined four times for driving in a low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) despite having a blue badge exemption.

Kathleen Daly, who will turn 80 in a few weeks' time, uses the car to drive her husband, Desmond Daly, aged in his 80s, who has limited mobility as a result of a hip operation.

After successfully applying for a blue badge exemption in the Bruce Grove West Green LTN when it was launched in November last year, the couple had driven in the area without any issues.

But Kathleen was suddenly issued a PCN by Haringey Council for driving through the traffic-filter in Higham Road on April 9.

Three more PCNs followed in quick succession, two for Higham Road and one for Sperling Road.

Her son, Stephen Daly, attempted to appeal the PCNs and was eventually told that three of the fines would be cancelled as “a gesture of goodwill”. The original fine from April 9 is still outstanding.

Haringey Council has said that despite the blue badge, the couple still contravened traffic restrictions as some LTN filters do not have a permit holder exemption.

But Stephen, who lives in Enfield, claims this had left his mum “confused” because she had always driven along Higham Road to visit his house, but was only issued a fine for the first time in April.

He said: “My mum won’t even drive the car at the moment. They’ve said that she still owes [the first PCN]. She’s so confused.

“She’s driven through it several times before because she has to drive through it to get to my house. Now she doesn’t know how to get to my house.”

Haringey Council told this paper that both the filter on Higham Road and Sperling Road do not have exemptions for Blue Badge holders, and that this is not a recent change.

The authority added that motorists should check to see if an ‘except permit holders’ sign is present before passing through a traffic filter.

Stephen claimed that before the blue badge exemption, his parents were considering moving house, and that this new development had knocked their confidence again.

He said: “It’s really knocked my mum’s confidence in the area, and it’s really sad to see.

“Her best friend lives on the road behind and she can’t get there [now].”

A Haringey Council spokesperson said: “We know this is a major change to the way people get around and went to great lengths to engage with residents and businesses prior to the introduction of the LTN trials. 

“Comprehensive information was sent to all households, including maps and detail on signage and exemptions, which we introduced on day one of the schemes.  

“For the first few weeks we implemented a grace period with warning letters issued advising drivers not to go through camera-enforced filters or they would receive a fine."

They added there is a "consistent" appeal process for PCNs.

“We will always assess whether there are extenuating circumstances that warrant the cancellation of the PCN. 

“In these cases, we have taken a considered approach that is believed to be fair, given that a traffic restriction has been breached.”