The operation to confiscate and throw away tents outside UCLH 

• I HAVE lived in the London borough of Camden for more than 35 years.

Driving home one afternoon I inadvertently started driving down Islip Street, Kentish Town, as I had completely forgotten about the restrictions between the hours of 9am and 10am and 3pm and 4pm.

I immediately realised my error, put my brakes on, and turned around. I didn’t drive through the street.

A man who witnessed it laughed and said “that was close”.

I received a parking fine which I appealed as I hadn’t actually committed an offence, and I was sure that Camden would show discretion.

They didn’t.

I went to a traffic tribunal where they were sympathetic and asked Camden, who attended via the phone, why they couldn’t accept this was a genuine mistake which was immediately rectified.

Camden’s representatives mumbled something about setting a precedent. I didn’t receive the evidence bundle and Camden responded “we can only apologise”.

It was just a few weeks ago that Camden threw homeless people’s tents in a rubbish truck. After first denying it, they then apologised.

Why can’t residents “only apologise”.

ELENA JOSEPH, NW5