Parking Ticket in dual use car park

Valli

Hi all - first time here!

I park regularly in a car park in Chesterfield which is used on a Mon- Fri as a private car park for North East Derbyshire District Council offices. There's an entrance to the offices, for staff, round the back and adjacent to this there are 6 disabled spaces. They are about as far away from the entrance and exit of the car park as they could be.
On a Saturday the car park is opened up to the public and is a pay car park.

Some months ago I asked a car park attendant (they walk round and check all the parking all over town) if these spaces were intended for the disabled on a Saturday. He said not, parked there (paid) no problem.

Did it today and came back to find a PCN £70 but £35 if paid within 14 days. (Issued by Park Smarter)

I have written the following to dispute:

Dear Sirs

I wish to dispute the above referenced PCN for the following reason. The car park in question is used as an office car park from Monday to Friday; on Saturday only it is opened as a public (pay) car park. I have been using this car park regularly on Saturday mornings for some time.

The designated disabled spaces are adjacent to the office entrance. They are not convenient for disabled users on a Saturday being some distance from either of the car park entrances. Some time ago I asked a Chesterfield Borough Council officer if these were ‘still’ disabled spaces on a Saturday as I believed that they were intended for employees of the District Council or for customers with council business, who are disabled, from Monday - Friday. I was told that he didn’t believe they were ‘any use’ for disabled drivers on a Saturday and I parked in a ‘disabled’ space without penalty.

This is never a particularly busy car park, even on a Saturday around Christmas time and I don’t believe many disabled drivers use it as it is a fair walk down into town; moreover there are spaces nearer to the car park entrances which would be more convenient than these designated spaces. The signage on the disabled spaces should be reworded so that it can be seen exactly when the spaces are intended for disabled drivers, particularly as this car park has two distinct roles, i.e. a private car park for five days a week and a public car park for one day.

Since I have been advised by a parking enforcement officer that these disabled spaces ‘don’t apply’ on a Saturday I believe that I should not pay this penalty charge.

Yours faithfully






(Valli)


Please don't get me wrong - I wouldn't dream of parking in a disabled space normally but I believe that these are for employees only (you need a code to access the car park Mon-Fri. I think) or possibly customers. They are not only a fair distance from the pedestrian entrances - but from town itself so I cannot see why anyone with walking difficulties would want to park there - there is nothing close by - no shops etc and there is plenty of on street disabled parking in town and car parks much closer to the town centre; in the multi storey car parks there are whole floors designated as disabled only. And it isn't money saving as all disabled car park spaces have to be paid for in Chesterfield (although at a reduced rate)
Incidentally I did pay the full rate £1.30 for 2 hours (not the disabled rate which I believe is £1 for 4 hours).

Is it worth fighting?

If I log the dispute but then still have to pay will I have to pay the £70 if it takes longer than a fortnight?

Thanks for looking! Valli x


Sorry - thought this was in Parking Fines sub-forum. I have pm'd a board guide to ask for it to be moved