Parking stories in the News/media

Fruitcake

'Devastating' Croydon Aldi plans will make car park for customers only by making shoppers enter code (msn.com)

A single mention for ParkingEye in the whole piece. I wonder who is the driving force wanting to stop people shopping elsewhere other than in Aldi, even though motorists have been permitted to do that since the store opened in 2015.

Fifty parking spaces, half full, yet ParkingEye Aldi don't want non customers parking there. This ban on motorists supporting other local businesses has been tried before but stopped due to an outcry. The same thing is being tried again, and again, with many locals objecting.
Aldi seemed to have stepped into something nasty and smelly because they are certainly spouting it.

1505grandad

@Fruitcake -  is it about Aldi not Lidl?

Fruitcake

1505grandad said:

@Fruitcake -  is it about Aldi not Lidl?

Probably.   

Jenni_D

A car park in my town used to be that of a Co-op store. It was free to park, didn't have specific time limits (that I can remember), and used to be patrolled by a store employee to make sure it wasn't abused. And yes - you were allowed to park there and shop elsewhere.

When the Co-op closed down and Aldi took over the site, PE came as part of the package together with ANPR, unreadable signs and a 90 minute limit. ( You can still go elsewhere - just make sure you're back within 90 minutes. Maybe the T&Cs say you can't do that, but as they're unreadable then who knows? )

I did try searching in the planning portal regarding signage etc. but I couldn't find anything which stated that the site must still allow general parking.

Coupon-mad

Whatever2023 said:

The DCLG letter also refers to the LA requesting data and POFA; however, it’s not the LA that’s requesting it.

Am not sure if DCLG are familiar with Para 4(6) of POFA.

I guess the above is why these operators are getting the data they ask for.

I read about the ombudsman ruling years ago, strange that Kelvin Reynolds is mentioning it now; maybe he’s just a bit slow lol.

Care to be open and tell us which parking firm you represent?  You've really given the game away which side of the fence you sit on, with the stuff in bold, not that it wasn't already obvious.

Even just calling them 'operators' and knowing they are getting data in niche circumstances is enough on its own to reveal your raisin d'etre on this forum, but calling the DLUHC the DCLG puts you in the industry for a fair number of years!

I'm guessing an IPC firm because you laughed at the BPA's elderly pet vicar as much as I did.

Happy to chat with a friendly PPC, if you are.  What do you think of the draft IA?

Maybe this is a conversation for the draft IA discussion thread.  Got any good evidence photos of car parks with no PPC infesting it?!

  

Umkomaas

Jenni_D said:

A car park in my town used to be that of a Co-op store. It was free to park, didn't have specific time limits (that I can remember), and used to be patrolled by a store employee to make sure it wasn't abused. And yes - you were allowed to park there and shop elsewhere.

When the Co-op closed down and Aldi took over the site, PE came as part of the package together with ANPR, unreadable signs and a 90 minute limit. ( You can still go elsewhere - just make sure you're back within 90 minutes. Maybe the T&Cs say you can't do that, but as they're unreadable then who knows? )

I did try searching in the planning portal regarding signage etc. but I couldn't find anything which stated that the site must still allow general parking.

PE hasn't jumped in on the UKPC 'leaving the site' scam (.... yet), but as they place 99% reliance on ANPR, they'd need to invest in some boots on the ground at sites with potential rich pickings. No sign of that at the moment, let's see what the CoP roll-out brings ....... no doubt new stunts (and new defences!). 

1505grandad

"....no doubt new stunts..."

All continued to be condoned/facilitated by the DVLA

Coupon-mad

Crown Point and UKPC named and shamed for enabling alleged 'double dipping' ANPR PCNs yet again.

Leeds man 'livid' after receiving 'bonkers' £170 fine after visit to retail park

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/transport/crown-point-car-parking-leeds-man-livid-after-receiving-bonkers-ps170-fine-after-visit-to-retail-park-4249810

"Phil Grayson received a letter from DCB Legal Ltd dated July 20 stating that he owed £170 for a visit to Crown Point retail park on February 13 this year.

The letter stated that they were chasing up the payment on behalf of UK Parking Control Ltd and that Mr Grayson had received the fine for “parking for longer than permitted”.

The letter states that the debt had been passed on to DCB Legal Ltd after the initial parking charge notice (PCN) was not paid.  He said:

“Looking at the Crown Point website it states that there is a three hour time limit with using their parking facility. Whilst I do not dispute using their parking on the date they state, there is no chance I have spent anywhere close to three hours or longer."

Coupon-mad

Nice case of Excel Parking Services Ltd losing in court yet again:
https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/23717555.gerrards-cross-man-receives-100-parking-ticket-20-minutes/

When Excel Parking brought a case against him, Stanley pointed out a tell-tale detail that proved that the bays were too dimly lit to see if one was reserved or different.

District Judge McCloskey took just a few minutes to dismiss Excel's claim for £255 - and handed it a £306 bill to cover Stanley's legal costs.

Stanley said:

"I strongly resent how Excel tried to turn a £1.60 parking fee into a £100 fine and ultimately into a demand for £255.

"Legal or not, it’s bordering on extortion. Let’s hope the Government’s proposed new Parking Code of Practice will address these failings."

Coupon-mad

Coupon-mad said:

And the BPA must be so proud of this one:

https://www.dorset.live/news/dorset-news/parking-ticket-weymouth-warning-fine-8648713

"An elderly man who paid £1 for his parking received a £100 Parking Charge Notice just days later. Peter Wills, aged 87, made a routine trip to Weymouth town centre where he parked at St Nicholas Street car park...

Peter typed in his Nissan’s vehicle registration number into the ticket payment machine and paid £1 for an hour’s parking.

The retired repairman left the Euro Car Parks managed site - he had paid for parking and left before his hour was up - but was left “confused and bewildered” when he received a £100 Parking Charge Notice a week later.

Peter kept his original parking ticket to prove he did in fact pay for his parking.  Angered by the Parking Charge Notice, Peter’s family believe that a printing error may have caused Peter to receive the Parking Charge Notice. Only the last three letters of his vehicle registration appeared on the display ticket, when the full registration is usually printed on the ticket."

Apparently they "are looking on Facebook trying to find an answer"... 

...oh dear.  Why do people think Faceache is the answer?!  Just GOOGLE IT and come here!

Come on BPA, stop letting your members use faulty keypads to fine innocent people.  Even if mistakes are sometimes the error of the driver it ISN'T A FAIR PENALTY so - just clear off.

And they have cleared off!

https://www.dorset.live/news/dorset-news/pcn-cancelled-why-car-park-8667428.amp

The BPA & their AOS members are doing a decent job of sweeping these cases under the carpet this year.

But for the love of GOD why hasn't the BPA included the 'keying errors' update in its new August CoP?

Or have they? Who knows because they haven't published it yet.