Premier Park PCN

JRH999

Hi,

I've read through lots of thread and was hoping for some advice. I've just had what I'm sure will be the first of two PCNs from Premier Park (parked their twice in the past couple of weeks and this is the first date) in the post.

The car park in question (in Devon) has a sign (pointing to the car park) on the road outside of the car park which says "Free Parking", I believe it used to be a council car park which was free but this recently changed - the car park is now 'free' for up to three hours 8am to 6pm. After 6pm there is a £1 overnight charge. I arrived at 18.54 and left at 20.38.

I have since returned and there is a new sign on the way in and a couple doted around which may have been in place when I visited, a photo of the sign is here:

postimg.org/image/5xac0cv5d/

It was a camera/ANPR system, I had still assumed it was free (again I didn't notice the signs) as there are no pay and display machines, but reading the sign I am expected to pay my £1 parking by phone.

They have asked for £60 within 14 days or £100 thereafter, it's more frustrating as I know there will be a second one in around a week.

Any advice greatly appreciated, I have been reading lots of threads but can't find one that matched my specific circumstances, we don't really want a long drawn out battle so are thinking of just paying up what could be a total of £120 rather than a total of £200 if we leave it or go to POPLA.

Thanks in advance!

Fruitcake

The advice you need is in the Sticky thread for NEWBIES. You say you have read lots of threads yet you seem to have missed the one stop shop for all private parking queries.


The NEWBIES thread tells you what to do in your situation. It is exactly the same as everyone else's that has passed though these doors.


Appeal as keeper using the template in the aforementioned NEWBIES thread. Do not edit it, send it exactly as it is using ALL the appeal points.


First appeals are normally rejected but the purpose of a first appeal is to get a PoPLA code. (If you don't get one when the PPC rejects your appeal, complain to the BPA and DVLA.) If you do get the code, find and suitably modify one to fit your case and submit that. Search on Premier Park and also have a trawl through the PoPLA decisions Sticky thread at the top of the main page.


Appeals based on information from this site have a very good success rate at PoPLA so don't even think about paying. A bit of research and two appeals should get this killed off. Repeat if you get a second PCN. (Separate appeals.)

Do not pay, do not ignore, do not reveal who was driving, do not 'phone the PPC, do not miss the appeal deadline.

JRH999

Hi,

Thanks for your reply, I have read the newbies thread, I just wanted a bit of confirmation from the community that as my situation is slightly different than others I can find (not an overstay or parked over lines) that I would still have a high likelihood of success and the same would still apply?

I did also wonder about emailing the council as it is council owned but run by premier park, but didn't want to admit liability to them and ruin my chances elsewhere.

Northlakes

Just check if the Council is still the landowner and farmed out to a parking contractor. If it is you will have another appeal point at POPLA. i.e. not relevant land.

JRH999

Hi,

I'm pretty sure they do, it's still listed on the council website (albeit being operated by Premier Park) and after this we searched on the Internet and could find a newspaper article stating that the council had paid to resurface it and needed to recoup some cost and that Premier Park would enforce it at no cost to the council.

So with this, is it worth complaining to the council? Would I be admitting liability? How would it best to phrase the complaint to the council?

Sorry to ask for so much help, we could really do without this cost.

hoohoo

I would also start your research by popping in an FOI request to the council for a copy of the contract.

JRH999

Will try to do that - would I be admitting any liability by being upfront with the council, but pointing out that I don't agree with the charges?

I have also looked up and there was no planning application for the ANPR camera (and tower) and also the signs, I know from other threads that this doesn't help me, but may at least cost them some money, so I'm assuming is worth me complaining to council planning?

Herzlos

Not at all, you're just trying to find out about a car park you got an invoice for.

JRH999

I was thinking about emailing the council with the following:

"I am writing to complain regarding your car park (xxxx) which is managed by Premier Park Ltd.

My wife has followed the large (I presume council) sign stating "Free Parking" which points into the car park and has parked here on a couple of occassions between 18.30 and 20.45 in order to attend baby classes at the surestart centre.

We have just received a PCN from Premier Park Limited for £100, she did not realise that the car park was chargeable and has used it in the past, as mentioned the sign (image attached) still states "Free Car Park", she was not leaving her car overnight and did not see any signs within the car park stating otherwise.

Is there any way in which you can get the PCN cancelled? We have since returned and can now see some smaller signs within the car park stating a £1 overnight charge. She did not see these signs as whilst entering the car park she was concentrating on moanivering the vehicle and the signs are at a large height and not at eye level, she also parked near to the entrance where there are no other signs, but realistically a £100 fine for a £1 stay is far from a reasonable costs?

Any help or advice greatly appreciated."


Any comments or issues? It's a small council which we are within.

Fruitcake

JRH999 wrote: »

I was thinking about emailing the council with the following:

"I am writing to complain regarding your car park (xxxx) which is managed by Premier Park Ltd.

My wife has followed the large (I presume council) sign stating "Free Parking" which points into the car park and has parked here on a couple of occassions between 18.30 and 20.45 in order to attend baby classes at the surestart centre.

We have just received a PCN from Premier Park Limited for £100, she did not realise that the car park was chargeable and has used it in the past, as mentioned the sign (image attached) still states "Free Car Park", she was not leaving her car overnight and did not see any signs within the car park stating otherwise.

Is there any way in which you can get the PCN cancelled? We have since returned and can now see some smaller signs within the car park stating a £1 overnight charge. She did not see these signs as whilst entering the car park she was concentrating on moanivering the vehicle and the signs are at a large height and not at eye level, she also parked near to the entrance where there are no other signs, but realistically a £100 fine for a £1 stay is far from a reasonable costs?

Any help or advice greatly appreciated."


Any comments or issues? It's a small council which we are within.

You would immediately identify the driver if you did this. All you want to know is, who owns the land and is it managed by the council, sub-contracted out to a PPC. A FOI request just asking for this information would be best. Also, for a couple of quid, you can request information from the land registry.

JRH999

OK, will ask them for that and if possible a copy of the contact between themselves and the parking firm.