Parking stories in the News/media

Coupon-mad

pinkelephant12 said:

Thanks for the info @Nellymoser. 

Perhaps we should all contact our MPs and ask them to question the DLUHC about the latest delay?  

No, there's no need. Patience... it is coming.

patient_dream

Coupon-mad said:

pinkelephant12 said:

Thanks for the info @Nellymoser. 

Perhaps we should all contact our MPs and ask them to question the DLUHC about the latest delay?  

No, there's no need. Patience... it is coming.

Is that what the Levelling Up dept is telling you and do you really beleve them ?

Coupon-mad

Yes, you know I'm involved.  I can't talk about the work or what I know, but:

There are more layers to it than just a team reading the responses from the Autumn.  I'm sure they did that bit a while back!

Everything has to be backed by evidence & rationale, and certain mandatory legislatory hoops have to be jumped.  If hoops are missed then the Gov would be in danger of another JR block.

Softly softly catchee monkey.

Nellymoser

@patient_dream...Maybe afraid to see a drop in the income presently raised (dvla KADOE, taxes paid by PPCs)

@pinkelephant12...MPs accept the "in due course, working as quickly as possible" reasons. Better trying gov complaint procedure (call for evidence doc. bottom of Annex B consultation principles)

@Coupon-mad...Oh once again we've been very patient and we deserve something more concrete to indicate DLUHC is moving forward with this. I find it hard to buy into the fact further work is needed when the Call for evidence doc.(Basic Information) already states DLUHC can formulate options, consult and decide on the charges even if no additional evidence is received. Sounds like evidence they presently have couldn't be challenged successfully. Maybe this gov is just not prepared to make the decisions and do hope to pass it over to Labour.

Coupon-mad

It's the rules about Impact Asessments (IAs) and the layers of checks of IAs that I believe take longer than you'd think.  Government can't just put out an IA without various legal checks & authorisation, especially in a case where the industry is likely to attack it. 

Nellymoser

https://thestrayferret.co.uk/harrogate-hospital-ceo-defends-parking-system-amid-criticism/

Back with parking at Harrogate hospital...

Chief Exec Mr Coulter defends the new ANPR parking system brought in and managed by Parkingeye in Sept 2023.
He feels it's an improvement on the parking arrangements that the hospital had in the past...

“I think if we looked back six to12mths to what it used to be like – it’s not perfect now by any means – but it’s a lot better than what it used to be."

He does admit “there has been teething issues, we know that and we acknowledge that."

The trust had to cancel “a number” of fines PE issued to drivers who had been directed by Trust officials to a drop off point. This area was not supposed to be subject to parking notices. PE got it wrong. This error was raised with PE and resolved.

Not all patients seem to share Mr Coulter's opinion but with a 5 yr contract signed PE's got plenty time to overcome "teething issues." 

https://thestrayferret.co.uk/harrogate-hospital-parking-firm-given-five-year-contract/
https://thestrayferret.co.uk/parkingeye-more-complaints-over-parking-fines-at-harrogate-hospital/

BikingBud

Coupon-mad said:

The Peel Centre Gloucester named and shamed yet again.

When will retail park agents wake up and smell the coffee that they don't need a parking firm in most places and certainly not this notorious 'scam':

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/shopper-hit-100-parking-fine-31926238.amp

"When I called they said that I am responsible to ensure that none of my passengers leave the site I am really not sure how this is fundamentally legal?"

I mean - come on. This is a joke set-up.

I will loudly applaud the first retailer that tells a deluded 'PPC-partnered' site agent that they won't lease a unit until the infestation of an aggressive parking firm ends.

ANPR - or this sort of aggressive predatory ticketing on foot - has no place at retail parks.

Ocean Parking named & shamed.

Absolute joke of a retail park brought into disrepute.

The BPA must be so proud.

I know we shouldn't but I thought of this and smirked:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju4S3Qdb_3k

Coupon-mad

Yet another article about hated ParkingEye:

https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/24163240.driver-fined-threatened-despite-paying-park/

Driver fined and 'threatened' despite paying to park

“I got the letter after getting home after a long journey,” said Carmel. “It was a very strong-worded threatening letter, demanding payment, despite the fact that I had paid my car park fee.

“My immediate reaction on receiving the Parkingeye letter was one of feeling threatened, intimidated, shocked, surprised and dismayed,” she said. “I felt anger and disbelief that a parking company could be so demanding for one to pay up or else.”

Sensibly, she got the landowners yo step in and cancel it, which is our recommended 'PLAN A'.

Wind your necks in ParkingEye.

The BPA must be so proud.

Coupon-mad

A good news story from a consumer inspired by MSE forum:

https://twitter.com/Kazza_belle/status/1765488165031178461

Reporter is none other than your friend and mine, David Walsh of the Daily Star (who I'm sure Excel would no doubt like to gag, along with us lot!):

https://authory.com/DavidWalsh/Excel-Parking-Victorious-driver-slams-Sheffield-firm-after-year-of-hell-af469b23b9f4f4258aa2e147317298b54?c=c6486ed676f8f461ca30f31e153f19932

Karen Bennett was taken to court by Excel Parking after a making a keying error while paying £3.20 on its payment app. Finally, in a last ditch attempt to avoid a trial, the firm said it would accept £200 as settlement. But if she refused it would 'bring this letter to the court’s attention and seek further costs of £220' - a total of £500.

Karen was delighted when a judge at Bradford County Court dismissed the case and denied Excel’s request for costs stating they were disproportionate and it had failed to justify them.

Karen, who lives in Bradford, also noted the car park gives drivers just five minutes to pay, or receive a demand for £100. But it took her 11 minutes to download and pay on the app. That was after she "found the machine out of order".

Karen said it had been a year of "hell" but she was glad she stuck to her guns. She added: "I would say to other people in my situation - don't be bullied by these companies. If you have paid for your parking, don't pay them off. Let them take you to court because if you have evidence of payment the judge will hopefully side with you.

"It was totally worth it! It's been a year of hell of course.  All those letters and threats make you feel like a criminal and it gave me many sleepless nights..."

Coupon-mad

READER LETTER: Fines are just putting people off shopping at Range

https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/yoursay/letters/24169232.reader-letter-fines-just-putting-people-off-shopping-range/

"my son  just bought a new home and visited The Range to buy items for his new home.

He spent a while in the store measuring furniture and shopping.

He sat down in the cafe in the store and then left after spending two hours and 18 minutes in there and spending £114.

A few days later he received a parking fine. We appealed against this and sent proof of shopping there with the appeal. He then got a reply back to say that this is being rejected as he had gone over the two hours by 18 minutes.

I have told him not to shop there any more.

When is St Helens going to acknowledge that this is putting people off shopping there?

It is absolutely ridiculous getting charged for spending time and money in The Range. I won’t be visiting this store either in the future."