Parking stories in the News/media

NCC1701-A

O the irony!!! BPA calling for government regulation!

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdd27pv4dy9o

kryten3000

NCC1701-A said:

O the irony!!! BPA calling for government regulation!

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdd27pv4dy9o

The IPC recently launched their own scheme which covers meet and greet services at airports from Liverpool to Manchester.  Wait, just Liverpool and Manchester.  

Coupon-mad

Yet another scam of Euro Car Parks introducing an insufficient 15 minute time limit in petrol garages, which - of course - catches everyone queuing on busier days to use the car wash:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14731743/Pensioner-hit-fine-15-minute-limit-car-wash.html

A pensioner is furious after being hit with a 'ridiculous' £170 fine for overstaying in a car park - even though he wasn't parking.

Garth Burden, 80, pulled into an Esso Garage in Rickmansworth to get his car washed and waited patiently in a queue.

He said: 'They said I had stayed for more than 15 minutes but I replied saying "That's ridiculous, I'm going to obviously fight this. It's so stupid to pay and get done for 15 minutes in a car wash. It's just common sense says you've got to have a bit more time than 15 minutes,'

Referencing Euro Car Parks, he added: 'They are trying to screw as much money out of poor motorists as possible. Car parking is a very, very, lucrative business for some of these companies and they really are, you know, raking in the money.'

'It's absolutely ludicrous,' he said: 'And they come up with all sorts of amazing warnings. You have only got to read the reviews. But if you've got an old lady at home or somebody who doesn't know the process of courts, the threat of enforcement agents coming to your home without any sort of court action can be frightening.'

Picture of the threatograms this poor 80 year old chap has resisted in 18 months:

All it needs is an exempting camera at the car wash. But no. Of course not!

@Kaizen2024 ...does the industry really think this chap is fair game and should have paid?

patient_dream

Seems like ECP has turned ROGUE TRADER

Nothing new , it's called the BPA club, full of them

Coupon-mad

Yet another double dip:

https://www.birkenhead.news/liverpool-dad-faces-100-fine-despite-car-being-on-driveway/

The driver has proof his car was at home in between ... but of course the 'outrageous scammers' are happy to run an ANPR system that defaults to 'first in, last out' images.

The ticket, issued by National Parking Control, claims Mr Murphy had left his car at Myrtle Parade for a total of nine hours and 44 minutes. He didn't. The victim had had to waste time 'appealing' a scam and says:

“People could lose their jobs because businesses are losing money when people aren’t going to go there.”

Coupon-mad

Another double dip case:

https://www.altonherald.com/news/lidl-receipt-crucial-to-overturning-ps85-alton-sainsburys-parking-fine-796486

Yet another scam of Euro Car Parks using an ANPR system that defaults to 'first in, last out' images. No human checks:

Tony Everden received the Euro Car Parks fine after allegedly breaching the two-hour limit by spending five hours and 28 minutes there on April 5. Tony had returned at 4pm to buy a shirt in Sainsbury’s, leaving at 4.49pm as logged by the camera.

Tony said: “As you can clearly see from the timeline of events, there is absolutely no possible way that I could have remained in the car park from 11.21am to 4.49pm as detailed on the charge.”

Sarah Tipper, from Sainsbury’s executive office, accepted Tony’s evidence, instructed Euro Car Parks to cancel the fine and sent him a £25 e-gift card as a goodwill gesture.

Coupon-mad

Visitors literally 'driven away' from a Cambridgeshire country park, all due to ParkingEye:

https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/local-news/visitors-popular-cambridgeshire-country-park-31648979.amp

Milton Country Park deserve all the bad publicity they get and are losing visitors.

The (main story) victim said:

“I put my car details into the app and my card details and it was rejected. I then tried again and was then rejected a third time. By then, there were three or four people waiting behind me, so I let them go in front of me. The person behind me, their card was rejected like mine, so they decided to leave the park.”

After his card was rejected multiple times, Derek and his family left.

“After I received this fine I was extremely annoyed and stressed out,” He added:

 “Many people I have spoken to either in person or on social media have said they would give the park a wide berth in the future.

“Pay and display meters that accept cash or debit cards would be a better option, because not all of us are streetwise about paying online.”

Another visitor to the park said: “I decided to park for two hours as I believe the jump up to six hours was so big, in terms of time and payment. I received the fine a week after I visited.

I thought £100 was very excessive and even to pay £60 as a reduced rate within 14 days was a huge amount. It’s a place I would normally visit once or twice a year, where we normally have lunch and ice creams, enjoying the park and really appreciating the natural space.

“However, I would never park there again as it has put me off visiting the country park.

Once entering the car park, it can take 10 to 15 minutes to park and get the kids ready before purchasing a ticket. This would be against you.”

Tracy Hutchison has gone through a “painful process” of dealing with fines over several months. She previously had an annual permit for parking when she took part in the ParkRun two years ago. She has received fines since a new parking system was installed in January. She said:

“I got a ticket on the first day it was operational. It took me 14 minutes to buy a ticket. I then went for a 20-minute walk and left. Because I had exceeded the 30-minute ticket I bought, I got fined. I felt this was really unfair because I was only there to try it out so I could help ParkRunners the next day.”

Grant Andrews said his family feels “ripped off”, after his wife received a fine at the start of April. At the time his wife was heavily pregnant, so she decided to go for a walk to try to induce labour. Mr Andrews said:

“There was a long queue at the machine, then she needed to go to the toilet. It was a dirty toilet that needed cleaning before she could go in. This delayed her driving home. It wasn’t as if she didn’t get a ticket to park. They need to update the ticket machines so a red herring time isn’t displayed."

Coupon-mad

Timely to see an article correctly describing a £50 council PCN as 'hefty':

https://www.penarthtimes.co.uk/news/25179798.penarth-dad-slapped-hefty-50-parking-fee-vale/

May 15, Julian Ross Morgan was left with a hefty £50 fine for being 15 minutes over his maximum parking time. He was enjoying a meal with his young son Alexander at a local business Sid’s Restaurant & Bar.

Angered by this he took to social media to express his disgust with local parking rules.

£50 is certainly enough of a deterrent and stings most people.

Does the MHCLG need more proof?

How about this recent example of £60 PCNs with a 50% discount at Westfield, in a very busy, London private land retail park area where parking is not allowed? Clearly £60 is sufficient deterrent:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6600750/parking-charge-from-efips

And how about evidence from several Labour Councils: here are just five examples where major arterial 'red routes' are making a difference to motorists' behaviour with £70 PCNs and a full 21 days to pay at the discount (not 14):

1. The Labour-led authority at Newcastle City Council said the "tougher measures" were needed because the previous double yellow lines were often ignored.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1wel8n4qp4o.amp

Airport parking crackdown has 'significant' impact

A £70 council penalty at Newcastle Airport approach roads which are properly signed as a red route 'no stopping' has had a 'SIGNIFICANT' positive effect on motorists' behaviour.

When the measures were first announced last August, the airport said it "fully supported" them. Sixteen people received warning letters during a two-week period from 21 October, with 52 penalty charge notices issued between 4 November and 27 January.

It followed concerns motorists were using the area to avoid paying for a parking space at the airport while they dropped people off or picked them up.

A Newcastle City Council spokesperson said: "Since the scheme was introduced we have seen a significant improvement in parking issues in the local area, with the majority of drivers adhering to the restrictions."

2. Same feedback from Labour-led Bury Council who introduced a 'no stopping' red route on major areas of the A56 in December 2024 ... with £70 PCNs:

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/hundreds-drivers-70-fines-being-114054629.html

In a joint statement, councillors Sandra Walmsley, Babar Ibrahim and Ciaron Boles, said: “It’s been three months since we implemented the red route on Walmersley Road and we want to update you on the enforcement statistics.

“We promised to improve the illegal parking on this stretch of road and implemented the red route to tackle the problem.

Fewer and fewer vehicles are parking illegally and those that are, receive a PCN. We are confident that in time, the number will reduce further with changes in driver behaviour."

3. Brighton & Hove City Council are introducing more red routes after the success of the first one:

https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/news/2025/councillors-set-agree-expansion-red-routes

The Labour-led authority's report follows the success of the Red Routes on London Road and Lewes Road, which have helped to improve safety and reduce congestion since they were introduced last year.

Cabinet members will also be presented with feedback from Brighton & Hove Buses, the city’s largest bus operator, which says the new Red Routes have led to an 85.7% reduction in passenger injury incidents in those areas.

4. Stoke-on-Trent City Council:

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/motorists-face-being-fined-70-9841120.amp

2025: This Labour-led authority are pressing ahead with the Broad Street red route after a public consultation attracted no objections. More than 90 red routes are already in operation in Stoke-on-Trent, all at the £70 PCN levels, and clearly it works.

5. Leicester City Council (another Labour-led authority) are introducing a new red route on the A6 after the success of the one they have at London Road:

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/news-opinion/councils-latest-red-route-scheme-9976994.amp

2025: "It will span the entirety of Abbey Lane and St Margaret's Way, includes the banning of stopping for passenger drop-offs and pick-ups, as well as deliveries....subject to a £70 penalty, which can be halved to £35 if settled within 21 days".

NOTE A:

All postal PCNs from private firms must be required to allow 21 days from service (deemed day of receipt), not the abusive 14 days the industry has got away with. This will match council and TFL discount periods that apply to postal notices.

NOTE B:

Red routes on private land must be the exception not the rule and must only exist (if justified) at Airports and Railway roads and on some Hospital internal roads. But not at £100 PCN level, except in London. £70 outside of London ... and always with 21 days discount from service of the notice.

------------------------------------

Further:

There is NO valid argument 'on safety grounds' to be made by the likes of VCS to support their blanket £100 PCNs they impose (regardless of London or not) at airports, either. Two more examples show that a credible deterrent isn't about the amount of money:

1. The Bristol Airport Policing Team run a 'major route' (the A38 airport approach public highway) as a red route with £70 penalties, so why are VCS allowed to operate other roads at the same Airport with £100 'parking charges'?

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/regional-news/bristol-airport-drivers-face-70-8564991.amp

That word 'hefty' was used again to describe the £70 penalties as they began:

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/road-near-bristol-airport-double-8564476

Inspector Christian Gresswell from Bristol Airport policing team said:

“We welcome the introduction of this red route and believe it will help reduce the risk of incidents caused by illegal, inconsiderate and dangerous parking."

Cllr Hannah Young, North Somerset Council's executive member with responsibility for highways, said:

"The A38 is a major route and the inconsiderate actions of some drivers are putting the lives of others at risk, creating a safety issue around the airport and causing substantial delays to other motorists."

2. If new (2025) 'safer streets schemes' set up by councils outside of London consider that £70 PCNs are sufficient deterrent, with some even introduced with SIX MONTHS OF WARNING NOTICES first, e.g. here are two:

Farnham in Surrey:

https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/motorist-could-face-70-fine-31379751.amp

and now Nottingham too, also with SIX MONTHS of warning notices issued first. The authority said they would catch drivers who stray into areas where there are restrictions on vehicles.

Motorists will be sent warning letters for a six-month period for first offences but after that they will receive £70 fines.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyk09myx81o.amp

...then PPCs operating at Airports outside of London can follow suit at £70 maximum, as long as their double red lines and repeater signs are every bit as prominent and visible (including at night) as a council would be required to provide, with the words 'Red Route' and a Clearway cross on very large signs.

The above examples are compelling evidence that £70 is sufficient deterrent on arterial roads around airports that have double reds and prominent 'repeater' clearway signs.

Additionally, in many respects the 2022 Code did not go far enough and I strongly suggest this:

All NEW private 'enforcement' locations and those with changes of rules should also be required to issue WARNING NOTICES for at least the first month as well as additional 'warning: new parking restrictions and charges' signs must remain on site for SIX months (not just at the entrance but in all areas and inside retailers / businesses / premises and pedestrian exits where motorists are likely to walk on site).

Is any further evidence needed that motorists are deterred by lower sums that are seen as 'hefty' to most people...?

Well, motorists are even deterred by a £10 charge to park in Salcombe, a pricey area:

UK's most expensive seaside town 'abandoned by tourists' after new £10 charge

https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/uk-ireland/uks-most-expensive-seaside-town-35262044.amp

Local business owners are concerned that this is scaring off crucial trade. Cafe and fishmonger proprietor Beck Gordon remarked: "It's quieter generally. The parking's definitely an issue."

She claimed that local day-trippers have stopped coming altogether, reports the Express.

Coupon-mad

Coupon-mad said:

Abertillery Iceland:

Somebody needs to contact this journalist and link her to this post.

The journalist can be emailed:

demiceryscaddy@gmail.com

Please tell her - and tell Neil Milkins who has been posting on Facebook (see images) and really has the bit between his teeth - to send their evidence to the DVLA and the Information Commissioner's Office...

...and to get Neil's constituency MP to raise this case at the House of Commons debate on private parking on 6th May:

A Westminster Hall debate on parking regulation has been confirmed to take place on 6th May at 11:30am.

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/25098515.abertillery-iceland-illegitimate-parking-fine-complaints/

Here are the DVLA emails to copy in, for the Customer Complaint Resolution Team:

CCRT@dvla.gov.uk
and
KADOEservice.support@dvla.gov.uk
and
complaintsTeam@dvla.gov.uk

This is serious: allegations of illegal ticketing as a result of wide-angle CCTV filming all cars entering this SHARED site, where four of the spaces are owned by the Council.

Reportedly, the Council wrote to Iceland and ex-clampers Vehicle Control Services to remind them that 4 of the bays are Council owned. So they know. Not sure why the Council hasn't simply told them to take down the CCTV camera.

This situation means anyone whose data was harvested by VCS whose car was in one of the Council bays has had their data bought illegally.

VCS: have you refunded those who paid?

DVLA: will you grow a pair, investigate properly with Gwent Council - get on with it - and (if the evidence is there) suspend VCS, like you did other AOS firms caught issuing PCNs on council land? Or did you only bother to do that when (very robust) David Dunford was head of data complaints?

If this allegation is true, it breaches:

- DVLA KADOE rules.
- the DPA 2018
- UK GDPR 2018 and
- the ICO's Surveillance Camera Code of Practice.

It's because they are using hidden CCTV high on a building at the back of the area (you can tell from the pic in the PCN below) that they are capturing EVERY pedestrian and every vehicle arriving,

That's excessive and unjustified camera use. WHICH IS UNLAWFUL.

This is not a suitable site to run parking management by remote cameras.

Looks like (allegedly) VCS have been obtaining DVLA data without reasonable cause and issuing PCNs to pretty much every vehicle that enters (except permitted vehicles like Iceland vans, one assumes),

Top photo shows the 4 council bays on the right, positioned next to a VCS sign on the left:


Second & third images I got from GSV which shows the VCS signs on the other bays, plus a close up of the sign in the other side (Iceland):

Trustpilot:

Vehicle Control Services on Iceland Abertillery parking fine

19TH MAY

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/25175086.vehicle-control-services-iceland-abertillery-parking-fine/

VCS have responded to the bad publicity about Abertillery Iceland and PCNs issued for parking in PUBLIC COUNCIL BAYS, sweeping it under the carpet by pretending this was a 'short-term' issue and that they've received 'some spurious appeals'...yeah, right.

I'll tell you the meaning of 'spurious' VCS: your camera excessive surveillance and harvesting DVLA data illegally in these cases.

Some duped victims even paid...

Coupon-mad

So did these duped victims; three times because postal PCNs don't alert drivers quickly enough:

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/25183737.weavers-wharf-warning-kidderminster-car-park-fines/

Rita Parton, aged 87 recently parked at the Weavers Wharf car park in Kidderminster town centre to shop.

Mrs Parton says she always clearly displays her Blue Badge in the window, which entitles her to two hours of free parking. But the couple were shocked to be slapped with three £100 parking fines from Euro Car Parks.

They stupidly paid them all at £60 a pop.

What is the matter with people?

But the bigger issue:

She didn't see the signs which were on the pay machines, as she previously didn't have a reason to pay at them. "If you didn't go to pay, you wouldn't know things had changed".

Quite right.

Why were there no extra signs at the Disabled bays, given the major change affecting people who would never walk to the machine?!