Parking stories in the News/media

Coupon-mad

Another one:
https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/anpr-cameras-60-fines-fresh-28151030.amp

Parking restrictions are set to be brought in at Teesside Park.

The shopping complex has announced that a new permanent time limit will be introduced in the main retail car park, meaning shoppers will only be able to be parked for free for four hours...

BUT

"the 2,000 spaces in the leisure and restaurant car parking areas will have no time limit, with the upcoming B&M store also adding a further 330 spaces to the unrestricted areas."

RIGHT...

and:

"Shoppers who want to stay longer than four hours time will have to make sure they park in some of the complex's other spaces, such as: 

Teesside Leisure Park, home to Showcase Cinemas and Hollywood Bowl, and the Morrisons supermarket. 

While a spokesperson confirmed that restaurant car parking areas will have no time limit, as the Nandos restaurant and future Wagamama are located within the main retail car park, spaces there will be included in the time limit restrictions."

I'm sorry, you've lost me...

And if the deluded owners of Teesside Park don't kick out the ludicrously complicated scheme from notoriously 'PCN-happy' ex-clampers Minster Bay Watch, they'll also be losing customers forever.

I sincerely hope the clueless landowner has a cancellation clause and won't have to wait a year to ditch Minster Baywatch and shut off the 'fine' enabling camera surveillance, as the retail units suffer.

Coupon-mad

Teesside Park landowners, you desperately need to rethink the above hare-brained scam set-up.

Have a read of this typical retail park U-turn:

Capitol Centre reverses decision – restores 5 hour limit

https://www.lep.co.uk/business/consumer/preston-capitol-centre-parking-limit-changes-scrapped-after-complaints-from-vue-cinema-nuffield-health-waitrose-and-mcdonalds-customers-4420869

The Capitol Centre fitted dozens of new signs around its car park off London Way enforcing a new three hour time parking limit. But the new restrictions have been scapped and the previous five hour limit has been restored.

Capitol Centre Management team said that an "error has been made" where the incorrect signage has been displayed.

“As such this signage will shortly be amended. In summary the car parking restrictions have not changed from the previous 5 hour time limit.

“On behalf of the Capitol Centre Management company we apologise for any inconvenience this issue may have caused.”

 
 

The new restrictions had made it nearly impossible to watch a film at Vue Cinema without the risk of being fined, or combine a visit to the gym with a spot of shopping or bite to eat.

One local mum and regular visitor to the shopping park described the new parking restrictions as ‘ridiculous’.  She said: “There are plenty of people who use the gym then have lunch or coffee, take the kids for swim lessons and then use the shops.  And let's not forget the current trend for films over 3 hours – so going to the cinema is now out of the question.

People should be able to park without a fine for as long as they are using the facilities - surely that's common sense?”

Coupon-mad

Sutton Harbour Group has had to waste its time and money putting up extra signs to reassure bikers and stop them all boycotting a place they've visited for decades:

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/promise-free-parking-barbican-bikers-8912700.amp

Motorcyclists can breath a sigh of relief after new and more permanent signs confirm they can continue to park at one of their favourite haunts - and enjoy a coffee and bacon sarnie - without the risk of a parking ticket and a hefty charge. 

Earlier this month PlymouthLive highlighted the concerns of bikers who had spotted glaring No Parking signs at the Barbican's Quay Square where they have, for decades, parked up to sample the delights of local eateries and bars.

While the firm said the new restrictions did not apply to motorcycles and they hoped bikers would continue to use the area, some raised the point that without a clear sign that bikers were welcome, visitors to the area may see the signs and understandably assume it included "all vehicles".

PlymouthLive relayed these concerns back to Sutton Harbour Group and within a couple of days a laminated card was placed below the main sign, quickly followed by a unequivocal metal sign which stated "Motorcycles Exempt From Parking Restrictions"

Which ANPR waste of space is responsible for this unnecessary parking restriction rubbish that will now only now alienate all the other vehicle drivers?

Yep, Britannia.

The BPA must be so proud.

patient_dream

Coupon-mad said:

Sutton Harbour Group has had to waste its time and money putting up extra signs to reassure bikers and stop them all boycotting a place they've visited for decades:

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/promise-free-parking-barbican-bikers-8912700.amp

Motorcyclists can breath a sigh of relief after new and more permanent signs confirm they can continue to park at one of their favourite haunts - and enjoy a coffee and bacon sarnie - without the risk of a parking ticket and a hefty charge. 

Earlier this month PlymouthLive highlighted the concerns of bikers who had spotted glaring No Parking signs at the Barbican's Quay Square where they have, for decades, parked up to sample the delights of local eateries and bars.

While the firm said the new restrictions did not apply to motorcycles and they hoped bikers would continue to use the area, some raised the point that without a clear sign that bikers were welcome, visitors to the area may see the signs and understandably assume it included "all vehicles".

PlymouthLive relayed these concerns back to Sutton Harbour Group and within a couple of days a laminated card was placed below the main sign, quickly followed by a unequivocal metal sign which stated "Motorcycles Exempt From Parking Restrictions"

Which ANPR waste of space is responsible for this unnecessary parking restriction rubbish that will now only now alienate all the other vehicle drivers?

Yep, Britannia.

The BPA must be so proud.

Discrimination against car drivers ??
Either get a motorbike or don't use this car park

The Sutton Harbour Group should get rid of Britannia  and NOT employ another parking scammer

Britannia do have problems with their signs let alone knowing who they actually are

Coupon-mad

Couldn't quite capture this whole article but it's a letter from a victim of a £100 'PCN' who thinks they have to pay it instead of eating properly next week:

https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/yoursay/letters/23945109.letter-forfeit-food-shop-nonsensical-parking-fine/

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Seems to be Civil Enforcement Ltd allegedly taking the food from this victim's table, according to this CAB thread:
https://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/topic/454537-cel-pcn-appeal-refused-pyramid-arts-centre-warrington-wa1-1bl/

Pyramid Arts Centre, Warrington, WA1 1BL

and

Civil Enforcement Ltd

and

The British Parking Association

...hang your heads in shame. This is appalling.

The landowner has no reason to let an ex-clamper scare patrons like this. IMHO the Pyramid Centre should kick CEL OUT immediately. 

Coupon-mad

A Christmas miracle! Joy as hated parking meter removed from community pub's car park

A pub has been given the perfect Christmas present its hated parking meter was removed after 11 months infuriating the local community:

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/business/2023/11/27/a-christmas-miracle-joy-as-hated-parking-meter-removed-from-community-pubs-car-park/

Last night, on the pub's Facebook page, a message was written, in the colours of Santa, white words on a red background, giving the news which will put a smile on everyone's face.

The post said: "Good news, bye bye parking meter! the car park at The Firs is now free for our customers."  Within an hour the post had been shared over 30 times, and garnered hundreds of likes on community Facebook pages. Previous customers promised in the comments to return to the pub.

  

Premier Park are reportedly out on their ear.

The BPA must be so proud.

Coupon-mad

Patients fined £100 at Runcorn doctors due to 'faulty' parking machine

https://www.runcornandwidnesworld.co.uk/news/23946047.patients-fined-100-runcorn-doctors-due-faulty-parking-machine/

Resident and patient at Brookvale Medical Centre, John McKune, was visiting for a routine appointment when he was later issued a parking fine. “I am disabled so I have a blue parking badge,” John said. “I entered my registration number into the machine. Next thing, I have been given a fine, it was £100.”

John said the machine has a ‘fault’ and he has been to appointments since where he has had to enter his registration multiple times before it registers his vehicle properly as a patient for the practice.  John, who has several medical needs and requires regular appointments at the doctors, stated something must be done to fix the issue before more people are fined.

“The machine is still not working properly. How many more people have been fined. You should not have this when you go to a doctor’s appointment.”

The resident, who lives not far from the Hospital Way practice, said he knows at least four other individuals who have been fined for the same issue.  “I have spoken to two ladies who have been forced to pay £100 each a fortnight ago and one lady said she just popped in for five minutes.”

The 63-year-old said when the fine was issued, he approached the reception at the medical practice to ask if they could do anything as parking is supposed to be free for patients at the practice.

John appealed the fine via a letter and was made to pay £15 instead of the initial larger sum ‘under duress’.

Brookvale Medical Practice at Hallwood Health Centre you are named and shamed:

They reportedly provided a comment on the issue, stating that the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) company is independent to the health care centre and does not receive any financial benefit from any individuals who are fined.

They appear to think this is all OK.

Looks like this unnecessary ANPR aggressor is Civil Enforcement Ltd according to this 2021 article when they were ripping off patients in the same way:

https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/patients-caught-out/amp/

CEL - just get lost. Get out.

The likes of you lot (and ANPR) is not needed in Health Centres.

The BPA must be so proud. "Driving up standards", eh?

Coupon-mad

Irate shoppers are getting trapped in Somerset Sainsbury's car park queues 'for hours'

Some say they are getting fined for staying over the car park time limit due to the jams:https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/irate-shoppers-getting-trapped-taunton-8931675.amp

One irate driver has claimed they received a parking fine after getting stuck in the queues earlier this month. They say they finished well before the four-hour time limit but were then trapped in the car park "for hours".

Likely to be Euro Car Parks.  This is parking management right there... sterling work. Kerchiing!

The BPA must be so proud.

Coupon-mad

Hospital car park chaos leaves staff furious and facing fines

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Workers at North Devon District Hospital face having to arrive up to an hour early to find a space in the car park, or face parking 20 minutes away.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/hospital-car-park-chaos-leaves-31536379.amp

One staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "For the last few months there has been a massive issue with parking. Staff are getting parking tickets within the car park, even though we pay for the parking and all have permits.

"There is not enough parking to accommodate staff, so they want us to park down the hill, which is 20 minutes away and walk back there after your shift in the dark. Now they have taken some of the parking away to build what I have heard are to be shower cubicles."

"All staff are generally upset and angry about the whole situation and how the hospital is not listening to our concerns. This is not good for an already overworked, overwhelmed and stressed staff."

Seems to be TPS according to the above sign

The BPA must be so proud of what their members continue to do to retail and NHS staff and patrons.

Sickening.

Coupon-mad

Take a bow UKPC for having terms stating that parking is allowed until 8pm, so they can  issue fake fines to shoppers when the shops are open until 10pm:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67565533.amp

Savills said it had been "made aware of issues with parking fines over the last few weeks and are working with the landlord and UKPC Parking to rectify any fines issued in error."

This is parking management right there... sterling work again UKPC.

Kerchiing!

The BPA must be so proud.