Parking stories in the News/media

Coupon-mad

Sheffield journo David Walsh is on Excel's case again - quite rightly - a shocking case:
https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/sheffield-widow-selling-car-to-pay-ps300-excel-parking-fines-4279916

"The Star asked Excel whether the time rule was designed to catch out motorists. We asked it to prove Sandra had not displayed her ticket. We also asked for independent proof the machines were working properly. And we asked why the increase in fines wasn’t paused during the appeals process. Excel Parking did not respond. The Independent Parking Community is funded by Excel.

The Government has announced a clampdown on ‘rogue’ parking firms. It is proposing to slash ‘fines’ and debt recovery fees and introduce a Private Parking Code of Practice for firms and an appeals service for drivers. A consultation runs until October 8."

Coupon-mad

Page 10 of Parking News:

https://portfolio.cpl.co.uk/Parking-News/433/10/

A current member of the House of Lords has joined one of the most litigious ANPR 'auto PCN churning machine' firms, Group Nexus.

Lord Austin of Dudley has a background in the DCLG and actually thinks that Group Nexus exist to 'help landowners and motorists'.  He has been "very impressed with the values of the business".

Does Lord Austin not know how to Google?
https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.groupnexus.co.uk

Further, there's a House of Lords debate next week:

Thursday, 14 September  

• Lords - Short debate: The reintroduction of the Private Parking Code of Practice for private parking operators

Lord Austin is not on the list of speakers so far…

Coupon-mad

The Shadow SoS and Ministers for Levelling Up just changed recently if anyone fancies a bit of calm and informed lobbying:

https://members.parliament.uk/opposition/department?DepartmentId=1003

No rants please.

The three Labour 'shadow DLUHC' Lords who might be interested are also listed there.

patient_dream

Coupon-mad said:

Page 10 of Parking News:

https://portfolio.cpl.co.uk/Parking-News/433/10/

A current member of the House of Lords has joined one of the most litigious ANPR 'auto PCN churning machine' firms, Group Nexus.

Lord Austin of Dudley has a background in the DCLG and actually thinks that Group Nexus exist to 'help landowners and motorists'.  He has been "very impressed with the values of the business".

  

I am surprised that Parking News allows fake reviews

This Lord seems to be rather vocal ....

Former MP apologises as £40k damages paid over false anti-semitism claim

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/politics/2022/03/17/former-mp-apologises-to-ex-corbyn-aide-over-anti-semitism-claim/

patient_dream

Coupon-mad said:

The Shadow SoS and Ministers for Levelling Up just changed recently if anyone fancies a bit of calm and informed lobbying:

https://members.parliament.uk/opposition/department?DepartmentId=1003

No rants please.

The three Labour 'shadow DLUHC' Lords who might be interested are also listed there.

YES .. Ms Raynor does not take fools lightly

Coupon-mad

And nor did the Lords taking part in a debate last year:
https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2022-03-28/debates/02E530A9-3FA5-4E03-A9B5-30CD73E1D93F/CodeOfPracticeForPrivateParking

They were concerned about the PPCs taking advantage of loopholes.  Lord Khan of Burnley seems to be very clued up.

Coupon-mad

Will this pub never learn?

Apt name: the Fleece Inn.

Named and shamed:

https://www.lep.co.uk/lifestyle/food-and-drink/parking-restrictions-brought-back-at-penworthams-fleece-inn-heres-the-new-rules-4285801

"ANPR machines from Britannia Parking now operate on the Fleece Inn car park in Liverpool Road, Penwortham – eight years after pay and display charged were scrapped because of a community backlash."

That's the end of this pub then.  I give them 2 years at most.

Nice work, Britannia. The BPA must be so proud.

patient_dream

Coupon-mad said:

Will this pub never learn?

Apt name: the Fleece Inn.

It might take 2 years for the pub to go bust but a month into this rubbish and takings will be down. They will blame it on the cost of living crisis but it's on their own doorstep
The Fleece has been well and truly fleeced
In the meanrime it will cost a fortune to buy their pub back

Coupon-mad

Think we missed this news in May 2023:

https://ealing.news/health-wellbeing/ealing-hospital-waiving-charges-to-visitors-after-its-new-pay-and-display-car-park-machines-fail-to-work/

"A spokesperson for Ealing Hospital told EALING.NEWS that it recently installed new equipment: “The pay and display machines at Ealing Hospital were recently replaced given their age.”

The spokesperson added that pay and display parking enforcement will be waived until they fix the problem: “Two of the pay and display machines are faulty and should be repaired next week. We will be waiving charges until then and apologise for any inconvenience caused to visitors.”

The APCOA signs in the photos are very altered with stickers and show no £PCN amount either, so I will use those photos as evidence on the DLUHC thread.

Coupon-mad

"£70 parking charge? That’s Asda price"

https://www.dawlish-today.co.uk/news/ps70-parking-charge-thats-asda-price-637560

"FED-up shoppers are threatening to take their business elsewhere after being stung with hefty parking charges.

Many locals have been contacting the Mid-Devon Advertiser, complaining about wrongful parking charges issued at Newton Abbot’s ASDA, leaving some saying they will take their money to a rival store for fear of receiving a charge they cannot challenge.

Typical among those involved are retired couple from Kingskerswell. Peter and Sue Disley. Despite buying a valid ticket they subsequently received a parking charge for £70 from Parking Eye, the company which manages the car park in Newton Abbot town centre. 

They said who are disputing the charge with ASDA, using evidence of their transaction for their ticket. However, even with this proof they are still struggling.

Peter explained that they were loyal ASDA customers, and found it an insulting situation. 

They said it was difficult to get anywhere with the dispute, with obstacles put in their way including disjointed customer service, a lack of collaboration between ParkingEye and ASDA, and staff telling them they they lacked sufficient evidence to challenge their claim.

When notified of this issue, a spokesperson at ASDA Head Office directed the issue to Parking Eye. Parking Eye have no telephone contact, and the paper contacted them by email and have yet to receive any comment."

Nice work BPA. You must be so proud.

And ParkingEye.  Penalise loyal Asda customers and drive them away.  Classy.

That'll help the high streets recover.