Martin Daubney was left raging at "council insanity" after it was revealed a local authority has been "charging residents thousands to park on their own driveway".

The Labour-run Southampton council fell under fire after it threatened residents with £1,000 fines for parking on their own property.

The body, which has sought financial support to make up for its £39million shortfall between 2024 and 2025, slapped residents who drive over non-dropped curbs with a letter with the warning last week.

Speaking to the Tory council leader, the GB News star incredulously spat: "I thought I'd heard everything in terms of council insanity, but charging people a grand to park on their own driveway. This takes the biscuit."

Martin raged against the 'local insanity'

In ardent agreement, Conservative councillor for Southampton City Council said: "First, the amount that they are charging is a huge amount for parking on your own drive.

"Equally, that sheer amount and the threat of court action causes a lot of anguish and grief, especially to the older people, to vulnerable, to disabled people that I've all come across have had this.

"And to make it even worse, the council has not actually ever once collected the £1,000 fine. It just causes complete unnecessary misery for people."

In a state of disbelief, Martin said: "That's the definition of insanity. So to threaten £1,000 fine, but not actually collect the fines - what's the point?"

He added: "There is a bit of a possible conflict of interest because the people sending out the letter are the are Balfour Beatty, who subcontract the roads for Southampton Council, and obviously they also will install drop curves."

Dubbing the whole scenario "complete madness", Mr Baillie told GB News: "Well, we've had cases where people are in council homes.

"They've been there for 40 years. They've been parking on their drive for 40 years."

One of the letters addressed to residents said: "During a recent highway inspection, it has come to the highway authority’s attention that the occupier of this property is gaining vehicle access to the property by unlawfully crossing the kerbed footway and this could lead to damage of the public highway."

The document then suggests applying for council permission for a dropped kerb, costing around £600 at least, in addition to a £165 fee.

Mr Baillie warned that the council's move could inflict grief and anguish on pensioners

According to the Highways Act 1980, the body can give notice to anyone who illegally drives over path - such as a driveway - to gain access to any building.

It is believed that Southampton council has neither enforced the rule, nor has it fined its locals for breaching the rule.

The council’s official spokesman said: “Under section 184 of the Highways Act 1980, subsection 17, the Highway Authority have the power to serve notice to anyone illegally using a mechanically propelled vehicle to cross a footway to gain access to a premise.

"This is because the footways are not generally constructed to hold the weight of vehicle traffic, which is why this offence can be enforceable with a fine to deter offenders and compensate highway authorities for repairing the footways, where there is evidence of damage occurring.

"This is not a new process for Southampton."