Parking stories in the News/media

Coupon-mad

I won't repeat the mud-slinging but this but is why the Government MUST be told "£170 isn't fine":

National Parking Enforcement manages several car parks and roadside parking across the county and have come in for criticism in the past for their heavy-handedness.
Perhaps its most controversial site is Earlham House.

Complaints about the car park stretch back many years, with drivers and shopkeepers saying the fines are for minor infringements, describing the terms and conditions of the car park as harsh and unfair.

Among those to be caught out was a pensioner handed a £170 fine last year for pulling into the car park for just over a minute.

The 81-year-old entered the car park and, as there were no available spaces, wound his window down and asked a passer-by to post a letter for him before exiting.

Another notorious spot is Rosalind Franklin Way, near the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

In 2021, a man was fined £60 by the company for taking 16 seconds to drop his NHS worker partner off on the road. He lost his appeal over the charge.

Another man received a £100 parking fine for pulling over on the same road for 26 seconds while having a sneezing fit.

Patients have also been caught out, with one man stopping on the road for just 36 seconds to pick his wife up and being hit with a £60 charge. His appeal was rejected and the charge was bumped up to £100.

Nellymoser

Dublin Airport forced to apologise after the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) helpline received complaints about the Airport's 'flash sales' parking promotion.

Motorists complained they found the parking cost increased during the 'sale' then reverted back to the lower price when the promotion ended.

Examples received by the CCPC included:
• On 9 March, the price for 10 days parking was €83, this rose to €110 in the sale. When the sale ended, the price reverted to €83.

•A five-day stay during the sale cost €60, cost was €56 after the sale ended and a 12-day stay priced at €94 during the sale was €80 15 days prior to the sale.

Having been alerted to potential breaches of consumer protection laws by the CCPC Dublin Airport say they are committed to refunding the entire cost of motorist's booking, along with an additional discount to use on their next car park booking.

Over 4,000 were overcharged in the 'flash sales'.

Dublin Airport's investigation identified the cause of the error but it wasn't revealed in the article.

https://www.mayonews.ie/news/national-news/1890796/dublin-airport-forced-to-issue-apology-for-overcharging-thousands-of-car-park-customers.html

Coupon-mad

Looks like the RAC Foundation has put out a very timely press release:

UK drivers have been hit by a 24% annual spike in the number of parking tickets issued by private companies, new figures show.

A record average of nearly 48000 per DAY. 

We are now at over 17.5 MILLION DVLA requests per year.

When you add the 10% windscreen PCNs that's NINETEEN MILLION PCNs per annum!

Giving this link rather than the Daily Mail:

https://www.thetottenhamindependent.co.uk/news/national/25470629.drivers-hit-24-annual-hike-parking-tickets-private-firms/

I told the government about this increase this year. Told them about the sudden increase in covert CCTV on buildings catching cars in one minute flat.

IMHO, it's mainly down to the Joint Code allowing zero consideration periods.

That's what has caused this hike this year.

Shame on the BPA and IPC and shame on the MHCLG for not tackling this industry with a proper regulator like the CMA or FCA.

Wakey, wakey MHCLG. I told you so.

patient_dream

"Shame on the BPA and IPC and shame in the MHCLG for not tackling this industry with a proper regulator like the CMA or FCA.

Wakey, wakey MHCLG. I told you so."
===============================
What does anyone expect from a government that is so incompetent ??

Do they NOT ubderstand that the ATA pit bosses  form the major part of this scam

Nellymoser

Pub to dump 'bullish' parking firm after too many customers fined

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/pub-dump-bullish-parking-firm-160000982.html

Mark Graham, of the Star Inn at Vogue, described the company, Civil Enforcement Ltd, as being “bullish” and said he has had issues with it “from the start”.

Mark said: “I had issues with them within two weeks. They were quite bullish on the phone. I told them to have black out days where the machine for a wedding or the ale festival is switched off but they still charged people. When I told them they said they wouldn’t charge them but still did. I asked for the details of the customers who were charged so I would reimburse them but they wouldn’t do that. I had enough.”

Mark told CornwallLive that the parking company pulled down their sign and machine on Monday morning (September 15) after he told them he “had enough”. 

An example of the parking operator not carrying out the landowner wishes. Could do with this pub owner completing the consultation survey.

patient_dream

Looks like the pub has saved itself in the nick of time

We all remember what CEL did to the Co-op when they dumped CEL .....  Shame on the BPA to allow rogue traders as members

Coupon-mad

Nellymoser said:

Pub to dump 'bullish' parking firm after too many customers fined

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/pub-dump-bullish-parking-firm-160000982.html

Mark Graham, of the Star Inn at Vogue, described the company, Civil Enforcement Ltd, as being “bullish” and said he has had issues with it “from the start”.

Mark said: “I had issues with them within two weeks. They were quite bullish on the phone. I told them to have black out days where the machine for a wedding or the ale festival is switched off but they still charged people. When I told them they said they wouldn’t charge them but still did. I asked for the details of the customers who were charged so I would reimburse them but they wouldn’t do that. I had enough.”

Mark told CornwallLive that the parking company pulled down their sign and machine on Monday morning (September 15) after he told them he “had enough”. 

An example of the parking operator not carrying out the landowner wishes. Could do with this pub owner completing the consultation survey.

Maybe someone could send them the link on social media, and to Yarm Medical Practice and to the We Three Loggerheads pub, who were put in the same position.

bill6262

A new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system has been rolled out across all of Wigan’s NHS hospital sites, marking a major milestone in its ongoing commitment to improving car parking for patients, visitors and staff.

The new system, operated by a private company, is part of Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL’s) wider car parking strategy aimed at making parking more efficient, safer, and easier to navigate.

As a "ticketless” system, payment is made just before leaving the hospital sites, as the time of vehicle entry into the hospital grounds is picked up on entry.

Visitors and patients will be able to park for free for up to 30 minutes, allowing for drop-off, pick-ups and attending short appointments. All visitors and patients must enter their registration details into the pay stations before leaving the site, where they will be notified of the charge.

Those eligible for free parking or have only been on site for up to 30 minutes will not be charged. This move is designed to discourage inappropriate parking and ensure fair access to spaces for everyone.

The new system, operated by a private company, is part of Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL’s) wider car parking strategy aimed at making parking more efficient, safer, and easier to navigate.

As a "ticketless” system, payment is made just before leaving the hospital sites, as the time of vehicle entry into the hospital grounds is picked up on entry.

Visitors and patients will be able to park for free for up to 30 minutes, allowing for drop-off, pick-ups and attending short appointments. All visitors and patients must enter their registration details into the pay stations before leaving the site, where they will be notified of the charge.

Those eligible for free parking or have only been on site for up to 30 minutes will not be charged. This move is designed to discourage inappropriate parking and ensure fair access to spaces for everyone.

Those attending our Same Day Emergency Care centre will still only have 10 minutes drop off for patients or visitors. Blue badge parking will be free for those parking in any of the legal bays, but users must scan the badge bar code at payment machines.

John Fairhurst, WWL’s director of estates and facilities, said: “We understand how frustrating parking can be, especially when visiting a loved one or attending an appointment. That’s why we’re investing in smarter solutions and expanding our facilities to make a real difference for our patients and visitors.”

Recent upgrades to Leigh Infirmary have added around 60 new public parking spaces and introduced a circular traffic flow to reduce congestion. The site also features improved lighting and pathways, enhancing safety and accessibility.

To make payment easier, two new machines have been installed that accept both cash and card - streamlining the process during what can often be a stressful time.

https://www.wigantoday.net/community/wwl-rolls-out-smart-parking-system-to-improve-patient-and-visitor-experience-5320298

Umkomaas

👆👆 How long before we get our first victim of that on here? 🤔

Bazarius

Oh dear ….. just pure lazy enforcement. 

Requiring  disabled motorists to scan their Blue Badge at a machine undermines the very principle of free parking if it forces them to walk or wheel to distances to a machine they’re meant to be exempt from.

 If failure to scan means they’re charged, then it’s not free parking at all - It’s a supposed concession that ends with an invoice landing on the doormat.