I have just had my appeal against a penalty charge rejected.

I have paid it, as I have no wish to have the charge doubled, but I have still asked to make a formal representation against it.

I was parked in Belmont, Seven Dials, displaying a resident visitor permit correctly scratched out but had not written in my vehicle registration number. This was in ignorance, the permit now not being of any further use, not because of trying to evade the parking charge.

This was only the second time I had used a resident visitor permit. In a year of working at this job (I am a cleaner), I had previously paid at a meter.

In nearly 35 years of driving, this is my first parking ticket - I cannot afford to park illegally.

I feel very strongly that Brighton and Hove City Council is going well over the top on parking fines.

-Mrs D Linscer, Southwick