A new Horizon... in a Tesco near you?

longtale_Parker

Good morning all,
Has anyone noticed a resurgence in ticketing from Horizon in relation to Tesco car parks?
On two separate occasions recently, on two separate car parks (Tesco Extra in Altrincham and Tesco Extra in Stretford) we have been ticketed - and I suspect many more have too.
Looking back through the forum, I note some older references to Horizon at Tesco (Tesco & Horizon caught out — MoneySavingExpert Forum) and wonder if some of the tips would still apply, 4-6 years on? Mainly:
Would specific planning consent for Horizon signage be required still? (I checked Trafford's planning portal and there are no recent requests, and none specifically related to parking enforcement since the store was built)

The earlier post suggests that, unlike planning consent (which can be retrospectively applied for) Advertising consent must be obtained before signs are put in place, and a lack of advertising consent is a criminal offence under section 224 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

I spoke to Tesco in relation to the first threat/ demand for payment - reduced from £70 to £30 as a "gesture of goodwill" if paid within 14 days (aww, bless) and, after some passing around they agreed to contact Horizon and have the notice cancelled. I am yet to discuss the second letter, from Tesco Extra in Stretford but thought it would be worth sharing for anyone in a similar position.

I shall speak to Trafford Planning (to see if permission for signage has been granted and recorded elsewhere) and will also speak to Tesco about the recent mismanagement activities.

Will keep you all posted...

Coupon-mad

Horizon NTKs are nonPOFA I think, so no saying who parked.  Easy to win at POPLA.

Fruitcake

Most councils unfortunately are apathetic where applications for Advertising Consent has not been granted, at least where PPCs are concerned, even though it is a criminal offence (but only the council can pursue it). It is also a breach of para 12 of the PoFA in my opinion.

Definitely follow it up, complain to the council planning department and your MP, asking the latter to contact the MP where the car parks are located if different, if it isn't in place, and contact local and even national press.

I kicked up a stink about ParkingEye reducing the permitted parking period originally approved by the planning department from 3 hours to 2 in a Portishead retail car park. Sadly the council's reply was, we approve the signs, not what's written on them, even though my complaint was about the reduction in planning approved parking time.

Quite often planning permission is approved for a site on the proviso that motorists are allowed to leave and shop elsewhere to support local business, but we see PPCs put up signs saying that a charge will be issued for leaving site.
Permitted parking time is also approved not just to allow people enough time to shop, or shop elsewhere, but to reduce the number of journeys taken to reduce emissions and congestion. This can sometimes be found in the council's traffic management plan or strategy, and may referred to in planning applications.

It's all linked together, but in my case all my MP did was forward stuff to the MP of the area, who in turn did nowt, and the council just brushed it off as insignificant.
Thankfully I got a landowner cancellation, possibly because the keeper was a carer and keyworker.

Umkomaas

Advertising consent - it's unlikely the council will be much interested (we've seen it happen so many times), likelihood is they'll sweep it under the carpet rather than mount a prosecution. Even though consent can't be retrospective, we've seen it happen, and on numerous occasions!

Unless you are going to commit a good chunk of your life to badgering the council to prosecute (aka, banging your head against a brick wall), I'm sure there are better things you have to do.

Snakes_Belly

I have noticed signs in the Tesco car park near to where I live recently. I think that they have increased the presence since the introduction of charge points. The charge points have taken up some of the parking spaces. 

In the Tesco car park near to where I live I have never known it full even at Christmas. Other than the disabled and charge point spaces there is no real need for monitoring. I would think that the person collecting the trollys could do that.

Umkomaas

Other than the disabled and charge point spaces there is no real need for monitoring. I would think that the person collecting the trollys could do that.

I think that does happen, but what training they've had isn't clear. The new CoP will require evidence of that. 

patient_dream

TESCO .... a company having a love affair with parking companies with a hate policy for customers. They have been sold a pup ?

I do question the financial brains of Tesco ?  For every customer who ends up paying the parking charge, how many TESCO customers do they need to make the same profit ... 10-20-30 ??  
And it's these customers they are driving away ?

I stopped using TESCO years ago as their customer service is poor and I don't know anyone who uses them despite Tesco having a mega store in the locality where there are always lots of parking spaces not being used

If there was a message to the Tesco CEO, it would be to get rid of these bottom feeders and watch your profits increase

Hope your second ticket is cancelled

PS: the staff at smaller stores are given cameras to trap customers