Athena ANPR

Gemmalouise25

Absolutely, I guess I just thought that given the time of night they wouldn't be rules in place! 

John464

One might think it wouldn't hurt them to leave their car parks open when stores are closed.  But sadly it sometimes does because people abuse it.  Camping and using it as a toilet, heavy lorries damaging the tarmac, boy racers doing their handbrake turns annoying the neighbours etc 
As far as I can see, all Lidl want to do is keep the car park pristine for their customers so signage is usually clear.
Its the private parking companies whose business model is to maximise fines, so signage is only unclear when they are given a free hand.

Ralph-y

before you do any thing I would check to see if the council planning permission says any thing re parking.

Lots of Aldi / Lidl stores have planning permission that allows drivers to use the car park for other local amenities

Ralph

Ralph-y

any answer ?

Ralph

Coupon-mad

Why has someone been advised to pay Athena, who never sue anyone?
Why did the OP park in a car park at night and not on street which is what out of enforcement hours permit bays and kerbs are for and cost nothing (I am not joking, the very LAST place to park at night is in a private/retail car park). 

 It absolutely astonishes me that people actually look for car parks when driving somewhere at night!

Ralph-y

"Thanks for your reply (I'm waiting on whether I am going to receive one of these tickets myself.)
But at least I was using the supermarket.  The reason they let private parking companies in is to stop people using their car park and going somewhere else.  So you have already rubbed them up the wrong way.

Sorry but it seems you would be well advised to pay.  "

so with 19 posts that is your advice.

you have just 'rubished' ... or 'rubbed up the wrong way' one if the pre-eminent knowledgable people  in the country.

As I alluded to lots of Lidli/Aldi ... and other supermarkets have included in their planning consent the use of the said car parks for other local amenities.

I hope you do stay and keep helping the cause, but maybe just take a breath before criticise  forum volunteers

Ralph

John464

Ralph-y said:

"Thanks for your reply (I'm waiting on whether I am going to receive one of these tickets myself.)
But at least I was using the supermarket.  The reason they let private parking companies in is to stop people using their car park and going somewhere else.  So you have already rubbed them up the wrong way.

Sorry but it seems you would be well advised to pay.  "

so with 19 posts that is your advice.

you have just 'rubished' ... or 'rubbed up the wrong way' one if the pre-eminent knowledgable people  in the country.

As I alluded to lots of Lidli/Aldi ... and other supermarkets have included in their planning consent the use of the said car parks for other local amenities.

I hope you do stay and keep helping the cause, but maybe just take a breath before criticise  forum volunteers

Ralph

Do you judge people's knowledge by the number of posts on this forum?
If you read posts before replying you would see that nobody has said its illegal to park there and go somewhere else.
But, at the risk of stating the obvious, the general advice is to go to the supermarket first and clearly it helps if you can show you were shopping there.  After all, that is their sole reason for having parking control.

Ralph-y

I do not wish to start a conflab with you but you posted

"Sorry but it seems you would be well advised to pay."

this would not be forum advice.

please learn from this and carry on helping .... we need more people to help with the main contributers workload

Ralph

KeithP

John464 said:

If you read posts before replying you would see that nobody has said its illegal to park there and go somewhere else.

Probably because it isn't.

Gemmalouise25

HI, 

sorry for the delayed response, had a busy few days at work. 

There was no option to park on a kerb - hence the location we parked in. 

So is the advice to ignore Athena? @Coupon-mad - I've followed your advice before for a previous parking fine and they dropped it once it got to court level. Any advice on this would be much appreciated. I have to pay by Sunday or the charge doubles.

Thanks in advance. 

Gemma