A mother is calling for the introduction of parent and child parking spaces in council-run car parks.

Eastern Daily Press: Young mother, Kayleigh Smith, has been fined for parking over the lines in a Waveney carpark. She claims there are no parent/child spaces in the whole of Waveney. Kayleigh with her children, Dylan and Seryn. Picture: Nick ButcherYoung mother, Kayleigh Smith, has been fined for parking over the lines in a Waveney carpark. She claims there are no parent/child spaces in the whole of Waveney. Kayleigh with her children, Dylan and Seryn. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant � 2017)

Kayleigh Smith, 28, of Kent Road, Lowestoft, believes insufficient facilities are to blame for the £50 fine she received from Waveney District Council on May 24.

There are no parent and child bays in council-run car parks in the district and Mrs Smith says those available are too narrow for drivers who have young children.

She said: 'Most parents will know you can't physically get your kids out of the car in the spaces provided and you don't want to damage your car or someone else's.

'It's unjustified - parents are being penalised because of the lack of sufficient spaces.'

Mrs Smith's Renault Megane was said to be over the lines of a space at the Britten Centre car park in Surrey Street, after she struggled to get her children Dylan, five, and Seryn-Rose, three, out of the car.

She is currently petitioning Waveney MP Peter Aldous via change.org and has started a Facebook page in an attempt to see action taken.

Mrs Smith, who is appealing her fine, said: 'The money towards the ticket could be going towards a day out with the children during the summer holidays.'

Waveney District Council have responded to the claims saying, 'Failure to park wholly within a marked bay is a contravention of Waveney's Parking Order - as advised on car park signage.'

A council spokesman said: 'There are not designated parent and child bays in our car parks however the majority of our parking spaces were designed to meet the national guidelines for size in force at the time of their construction.

'We appreciate that some parking bays can be more challenging, especially for larger vehicles and we would recommend that visitors find a suitable space appropriate for the size of their vehicle and their individual needs.'

Mrs Smith says she is determined to see a change and will soon be visiting Waveney car parks to drum up more support.

She said: 'This is something I am passionate about and I'm not going to stop.'

What do you think? Email Letters at the Journal at : lowestoft.journal@archant.co.uk.