A FALMOUTH pensioner has had her Meals on Wheels service

stopped because of double yellow lines.

For the last 18 months 85-year-old Patricia Whitwam, of Old

Chapel Yard, Church Street, has been brought hot lunches by a

volunteer from the WRVS.

However the charity has pulled the plug, blaming a new

parking enforcement system.

As volunteers have to park on double yellow lines to make

deliveries to her, it fears parking tickets will be

imposed.

Mrs Whitwam is the only person to be told she can no longer

have deliveries.

Charity spokesman Roger Benney said: “My personal experience

is the wardens are intolerant.

“It is not really fair to ask our volunteers to park and get

a ticket for doing their job.”

The decision has left the family angry and struggling to

find an alternative solution.

Poor health means Mrs Whitwam is unable to make meals for

herself. She is unable to even heat food.

Susan Mitchell, her daughter, said: “She has been deprived

of an essential service.

“She is the first victim of official intransigence in

Falmouth and will not be the last if the issue is not

effectively addressed.

“Institutional failure to meet essential needs of an elderly

person is further evidence of growing bureaucratic indifference

to basic welfare.

“My mother deserves some dignity and respect in her

declining years.

“She did her wartime service in the Wrens, paid her taxes

and worked hard all her life.”

With the help of social services, Mrs Mitchell has managed

to make temporary arrangements for a carer to collect meals

from the Kings Head pub for her mother each day.

Mr Benney said the situation has implications for anyone

delivering a service to housebound people.

He said: “We are given five minutes grace, but that is not

long enough and it is frustrating.

“Members of the public ring to ask for a meal and we now

have to check about parking.

“I have written to all the Meals on Wheels organisers and

explained the situation and asked them to let me know if there

is anyone who could be affected.

“It is not just about Meals on Wheels, but affects books on

wheels, hospital transport or anyone who delivers services to

housebound people.”

Parking enforcement is now run through the local authority

and wardens have been employed by Carrick District Council.

Andy Beckett, operations officer for parking services with

Carrick, said: “There is leeway for services and I don't have

an issue with it.

“If they do park somewhere that is dangerous they would get

a ticket.

“There is also a robust appeals procedure if you do get

ticketed.”