Parking stories in the News/media

Coupon-mad

And - wow - are the BPA going to investigate this company, assuming it's the same 'PPS' I think it is?

Chertsey woman was fined after cardboard sign put up in hedges after she parked

https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/chertsey-woman-fined-after-cardboard-27323707.amp

She had parked in a "V" marked visitors bay on the private land, but when she came back to her car she noticed a cardboard sign had appeared in a hedge in front of her Vauxhall. Stephanie said:

“There were three spaces for visitors. It was at the block of flats where my friend lives, and there was no sign to say you couldn’t park in that space.

When I returned the sign was on the bush, and the ticket was on my car. It was a bit of cardboard on the hedge that wasn't there when I went in.”

The parking firm’s solicitor, from Gladstones, included in the witness statement a photo of the car before and after the ticket was issued. You could see in the photos, taken by Private Parking Solutions, that the sign wasn’t there in the first image. They didn’t check their pictures. In court he realised they had messed up big time, he raised it first, the judge was baffled by it."

What? wait...

The legal rep sent by Gladstones raised it?


DVLA:

...what are you doing about this allegation about Private Parking Solutions?  Remember, that UKCPM were banned when it was proved that they were doing this 'vanishing sign' act a few years ago.

Very well done, Andy Taylor who is in one of the 'good' FB Groups who actually all know what they are doing.  Andy lay reps quite a few cases with great results

I assume this is Private Parking Solutions (London) Ltd?  A BPA firm?

This one?
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07437253/officers

This evidence needs to go to the DVLA now.  I suspect that the BPA may well follow this forum.

BPA:

If this is true and one of your lot,  it MUST be a case of DVLA suspension (and/or a total ban) because UKCPM were suspended by the DVLA which must act consistently. Would you like to report it to the DVLA or shall Andy do it, or shall I ?

Happy to push it straight to the DVLA.

Coupon-mad

Bodmin Town Council are letting PPS operate council car parks "as if they are private land", and ANPR has just been installed despite it being banned for local authority use (for parking enforcement):

https://www.cornish-times.co.uk/news/bodmin-town-council-car-parks-face-price-hike-and-anpr-camera-enforcement-615095

Their legal advisors seem to have missed the fact that Councils aren't allowed to use ANPR for parking enforcement. It became illegal as part of the Deregulation Act in 2015.

And I found an ongoing FOI complaint (involving Brighton & Hove Council) where the DLUHC have reiterated the letter sent by Robert Goodwill / the DFT:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/957684/response/2281628/attach/2/DVLA%20letter%20on%20LA%20parking%20enforcement%201%20Redacted.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1

The DLUHC restate that Councils MUST NOT operate car parks as if they are private land.

So why are Bodmin and BHCC doing that?

BHCC are not letting ex-clampers OPS use ANPR but they are still letting them loose across the City on sites such as the seafront Promenade, roads that appear to be public highway, council offices and even a Crematorium.

KeithP

Town Councils, e.g. Bodmin Town Council, appear to have a similar level of authority as a parish council.
In the case of parking, I have no idea whether they have to align with District, Borough, City and County Councils though.

Coupon-mad

Nor do I but I will send a FOI to find out.

The BHCC situation and their continued inappropriate use of OPS at those places I listed above is annoying me, so I've decided to make a formal complaint to the DVLA.  Watch this space.

Umkomaas

You'd imagine a fine, upstanding, professional firm like PPS would have advised Bodmin Town Council, 'Sorry, we are unable to help you with your car park management as Govt rules don't allow the installation of ANPR cameras in council car parks for enforcement purposes'. 

foden11

Coupon-mad said:

Who actually believes this sort of claptrap?

Why do NHS Trusts & Supermarkets fall for it?

Does no-one at the Hospital Trust think:

 "hang on, a service offered free you say? And erring drivers pay for it?
But wait... this isn't a destination of choice so the only people who park here are staff, patients and visitors...wait...let me think about the ethics of what looks like a Protection Racket targeting vulnerable people by setting a percentage up to fail..."

The car parks here you used to  take ticket on entry pay when leave run by hospital staff, The machine in the photo at my last visit sates pay by cash, card,phone but does not take cash good scam, it is a good hike to the machine that does when it is pouring down. Like you i would like to know how they have made it safer and improved ?

patient_dream

I know this Daily Mail article has nothing to do with parking but there is a similarity and that is the legals

Rishi Sunak says 'unacceptable' rogue solicitors who were found telling migrants how to cheat the asylum system must face the 'full force of sanctions' and calls for a review by the legal watchdog

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12341749/Rishi-Sunak-says-unacceptable-rogue-solicitors-telling-migrants-cheat-asylum-face-force-sanctions-calls-review-legal-watchdog.html

WE WANT RISHI TO SAY .....

Rishi Sunak says 'unacceptable' rogue solicitors who ARE found ATTEMPTING TO EXTORT money from motorists and constantly waste the time of the courts must face the 'full force of sanctions' and calls for a review by the legal watchdog

Coupon-mad

Here's a good example for the DLUHC about how even a low £25 unfair charge can horrifically affect vulnerable people.

This disproves the false 'need' trumpeted by the parking industry for high parking charges.

BPA

IPC

Tell me... how exactly did this dying chap need a 'deterrent'?

Cancer patient Kim Culley said he was slapped with a £25 fine after parking on double yellow lines to avoid missing end-of-line treatment at hospital:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/cancer-patient-slapped-25-parking-30574625.amp

"A terminally ill man who was slapped with a £25 parking fine at The Royal Stoke Hospital is warning other patients 'will die' because of the 'inhumane' parking policy.

Kim Culley, 75, was given a parking ticket when he parked on double yellow lines at the hospital he visits weekly for end-of-life treatment. Kim has stage four lung cancer and struggles with his mobility."

Kim said:
 “If I go to a supermarket and see the disabled parking is full, I have the option to drive to another supermarket. When I’m at the hospital, I can’t drive to another hospital, I have no choice.  I have stage four lung cancer and mobility is a major issue for me. I have a blue badge that allows me to park on double-yellow lines...

... I have been having treatment at the Royal Stoke. A few months ago I had to attend the cancer ward to get a blood transfusion. I was unable to find a parking space near the cancer ward entrance so I parked on double yellow lines but advised reception that I was blue-badged on double yellows.

She said it was OK and not to worry.

Two weeks ago, I parked on double yellows, again for a transfusion, and I had a ticket. I paid it immediately and then appealed. I assumed it was a mistake. I always park so I’m not causing an obstruction".

Shame on you:

BPA this is the sort of misery you facilitate.

APCOA took this dying man's money.

The Royal Stoke actually defended the issuing of the parking fine.  Atrocious! 

Lorraine Whitehead - shameless (and Equality Act clueless) Director of Estates, Facilities and PFI told the Mirror: “We are sorry if anyone visiting the Royal Stoke has difficulty finding a parking space..." blah blah APCOA ... (effectively) 'tough on the dying man'.  

And I'm not even copying the clueless comment by Mirror reader, 'Geoff N'.

There are some heartless idiots in this World.

 

Coupon-mad

More questions about possible use of ANPR in Council car parks, this time I suspect it here from Derby City Council:

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/council-raises-60000-parking-tickets-8631304.amp

I did some digging and this car park is used by Uni students with a concessionary e-permit. One Google result to the scheme explained by the University mentioned ANPR on the Google result but when I clicked on it there was nothing about ANPR on the webpage.

Suspicious.

Seems like a LOT of PCNs from Derby City Council for car parks.  I will send them an FOI to ask if any were postal PCNs based on ANPR data.

Coupon-mad

Here we have ex-wheelclampers Excel Parking Services Ltd reportedly causing more misery in a Leisure Park.

Here's how to drive people away:
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23675837.furious-woman-hits-darlington-parking-charge-fine/

After parking at Feethams and leaving a day later, the family thought nothing of it but were shocked when they were hit with a fine for reportedly taking too long to pay for their parking.

"...we got to the machine and realised it only takes coins, which is a bit weird. So, we either had to pay by coin or pay over the phone by card.  My husband quickly went to a shop to get coins so we could pay whilst my daughter tried over the phone. She couldn’t figure it out as it said it kept failing.

Eventually my husband came back with coins so we paid and got our ticket. When we left a day later we didn’t think any more of it.  Weeks later and after an unsuccessful appeal to Excel Parking, 

Kirsty has said she felt like she had “no choice” but to pay.  She added:

 “I’m furious because I was thinking of coming back up for my birthday later this year and I don’t want to now. It’s really put me off.

“The parking fine is now more than we paid for the hotel.”

Excel took the money and reportedly didn't respond to the newspaper.  Quelle surprise...

IPC - you must be soooo proud...