Parking charge at Blackpool airport

dradonrider

I just wanted to check if people thought I had a case to appeal against a parking charge I was given yesterday at Blackpool airport by Parking Eye.
I arrived there early in the morning and spent ages driving around the free car park (I say car park but it's more like a gravel pit/field) looking for a space. The only one I could find was on a long grass verge. This was already filled with parked cars so as no signage was visable I foolishly presumed it was ok to park there. There were no yellow lines and I wasn't causing an obstruction. I returned to my car later the same day to discover that myself and all the cars on the grass verge had received a parking charge of £100. On closer inspection I realised that there was signage to tell you not to park on the verge but it was completely obstructed by all cars parked in front of it. If I'd have seen the signage I would never have parked there.
Do I have a case?

Guys_Dad

Signage is important. It needs to be properly constituted. The BPA is reasonably helpful about what is required by their members.

Please read the BPA CoP. They have a section on signs and an appendix. see here http://www.britishparking.co.uk/write/Documents/AOS/AOS_CoP_June_2013_update.pdf

If you could post up a copy of the sign (without getting booked again!) it might help.
In addition, I take it that this was on private land belonging to the airport authority?

Also, when did this occur and have you had a Notice to Keeper?

dradonrider

Yes, this was on private land belonging to the airport. It happened yesterday 9-08-13 and the parking charge notice was attached to my windscreen.
I don't have a photo of the sign but could get one. The sign was pretty clear but it was its location that caused the problem as it was completely invisible behind the parked cars.

Kite2010

Sounds a bit like the local railway station car-park, haven't got enough spaces so vehicles regularly part on a grass verge not causing any obstruction, and paying the P&D amount, but gets parking tickets from CP Plus.

CP Plus say if the car-park is full you need to park elsewhere, considering the car-park is surrounded by a CPZ for about 1 mile, the commuters are not going to risk a proper council fine by parking on the SYLs.

If you've got the parking notice attached to your windscreen, wait until Parking Eye sends out the "notice to keeper" (making sure it was issued between 29 days and 54), if they send out the NTK early they are shooting themselves in the foot.

Umkomaas

Seems a strange MO for ParkingEye - issuing windscreen tickets?

OP - can you scan up a redacted copy of your ticket please, then we can give you more specific advice?

Has any regular come across a PE NtD previously? Maybe self-ticketing operation, but I've not seen any such activity in my experience.

Kite2010

Don't Parking Spy issue windscreen tickets for the crime of parking in a disabled bay without displaying a worthless piece of paper?

In the larger car-parks

Umkomaas

Kite2010 wrote: »

Don't Parking Spy issue windscreen tickets for the crime of parking in a disabled bay without displaying a worthless piece of paper?

In the larger car-parks

Didn't know they went go to the expense of parking attendants, hi-viz badged jackets, peaked caps and ticket machines, when a couple of cameras up a lamp post would be far more effective and efficient.

Blue Badges? - !!!!!!, scam them with the cameras while we're at it, if only a few pay, we're still quids in!

dradonrider

I'm afraid I don't have a scanner but the ticket looks very much like one you would receive from the council and clearly says Parking Eye car park management on the top followed by Parking Carge Notice. It then gives the notice number, date, car details and the attendant no and signature.
Reason for issue as per signage
-Parked in no parking area
-Parked on grass verge

Parking charge amount due £100
If paid within 14 days of the contravention £60
If not paid after 28 days £100 plus liability for charges

As the driver at the time of the parking event you are now required under the Protection of Freedoms Act to pay or appeal the parking charge.

The registered keepers details may be requested from the DVLA.

Then it gives payment methods.

Then tells me how to appeal.

What do I do now?

Stroma

You are not required to do anything under the protection of freedoms act, you are invited to pay, or invited to appeal. There is no requirement! But as mention wait between day 29-56 for the notice to keeper, if it comes earlier or later then that is a breach of pofa

dradonrider

So when the notice to keeper arrives is that when I appeal? That is if you think I have a right to appeal? I was parked where the signs said I shouldn't but I couldn't see the signs. Also £100 seems an awfully large fine.
I'm grateful for all your help as I have no idea when it comes to this kind of thing. I was just going to pay until I googled Parking Eye.

Stroma

It's not a fine, get that out of your head now. You challenge parking eye on mitigating circumstances like didn't see the signs etc. when they reject that you go for popla with legal reasons why you are not liable. You will win there with our help