Parking stories in the News/media

Nellymoser

Plans for parking charges in major Scots city SCRAPPED after 2,000 objections from locals

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/motors/15717476/parking-charges-scrapped-edinburgh-portobello/

Coupon-mad

Shoppers have been hit with £60 'fines' for visiting B&M during the earlier opening hours at B&M’s store in Parc y Llyn Retail Park in Aberystwyth the week before Christmas:

https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/shoppers-hit-with-ps60-parking-fine-for-visiting-bms-early-christmas-opening-hours-865899

The store usually opens from 8am, but that week opened from 7am to help customers prepare for the busy holiday week.

However the car park operator - UKPC - didn’t follow suit, fining customers who used the retail park car park before the official opening time of 8am. One victim said:

“The restriction is not clearly displayed and none of the signs are illuminated in hours of darkness. The store had informed UK Parking Control of the change in opening hours; however they have taken no notice and continued to enforce the 8am time limit! There were dozens of cars parked at B&M at this time, so suspect they have all received a parking ticket.”

The BPA and UKPC must be so proud.

Nellymoser

Failing to act on the store’s change of opening hours demonstrates BPA member UKPC lacks the skills required for effective car park management. 

Nellymoser

Mobility gives update on disability vehicle/blue badge scheme...

A 'Special Investigations Unit' has been set up to combat vehicle and badge misuse. 

Scheme changes and cost increases from July 2026.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/motability-gives-needs-disabled-person-36381518?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button

Nellymoser

Are retailers overcharging motorists at the pump? UK’s competition watchdog found profit margins in the sector remain “persistently high” and unexplained.

https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/national/25716453.fuel-retailers-ramping-profit-margins-amid-weak-competition---cma/

The AA said the CMA findings show drivers are being “taken for a ride” retailers are quick to pass on rises in wholesale costs but slow to respond to falls.

Nellymoser

Jan 2026 increases to Airport car parking:

Bristol increases charges again less than a year after the airport last raised its fees in March 2025.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/bristol-airport-increase-car-parking-114945282.html

The last major airport without a drop-off charge, London City, will introduce an £8 fee for people reaching the Docklands terminal by car. 

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/last-major-uk-airport-introduces-115306583.html

Half_way

Coupon-mad said:

Shoppers have been hit with £60 'fines' for visiting B&M during the earlier opening hours at B&M’s store in Parc y Llyn Retail Park in Aberystwyth the week before Christmas:

https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/shoppers-hit-with-ps60-parking-fine-for-visiting-bms-early-christmas-opening-hours-865899

The store usually opens from 8am, but that week opened from 7am to help customers prepare for the busy holiday week.

However the car park operator - UKPC - didn’t follow suit, fining customers who used the retail park car park before the official opening time of 8am. One victim said:

“The restriction is not clearly displayed and none of the signs are illuminated in hours of darkness. The store had informed UK Parking Control of the change in opening hours; however they have taken no notice and continued to enforce the 8am time limit! There were dozens of cars parked at B&M at this time, so suspect they have all received a parking ticket.”

The BPA and UKPC must be so proud.

The BPA will be happy as their member will have increased their profit margin at that site.

This issue should be laid firmly and squarely at the landlords feet, even if they spout the usual nothing to do with us, our car park is managed for us by a third party agency nonsense.

 Landowners/management agencies and those who allow PPCs onto their land need to feel the heat for the actions of these PPCs, If Morison's can be held liable over a member of staffs actions when they attacked a customer, then landowners/landholders should be liable when a PPC that they have permitted to act on their land goes for members of the public 

1505grandad

"However the car park operator - UKPC - didn’t follow suit, fining customers who used the retail park car park before the official opening time of 8am."

If all who receive a pcn also complain to the DVLA that the ppc have not complied with the KADOE contract re "Best Practice"  -  would the DVLA care  -  the answer of course "Not A Chance".

"A6. Compliance with the Law and Industry Best Practice

A6.1. The Customer shall at all times comply with Law and Industry Best Practice in carrying out its obligations under the Contract.

“Industry Best Practice” means at any time the exercise of that degree of skill, care, diligence, prudence, efficiency, foresight, standards, practices, methods, procedures and timeliness which would be expected at such time from a leading and expert company within the industry, such company seeking to comply with its contractual obligations in full and complying with all applicable Laws."

Coupon-mad

On Sky News

https://news.sky.com/story/money-problem-i-overstayed-in-car-park-by-one-minute-and-theyre-demanding-170-13477977 

I missed this when  @prowla first posted it a month ago but I was just reading this article. Pleasantly surprised.

Apart from using words like 'fine', showing the wrong PCN image and completely missing the fact that the added £70 is a double recovery scam dressed up as 'debt resolution', the advice was pretty good and matches the MSE Guide.

"You can safely ignore debt collector letters and demands for £170," Scott Dixon says. "They have no enforcement powers and are 'strangers to the alleged debt'."

However, a letter before claim/letter of claim needs a response as it's a precursor to court action.

"I suggest you try and get this invoice cancelled by contacting the landowner before it goes to court," says Dixon.

"In supermarket car parks, speak politely to customer services with your receipt first. Explain you are a loyal customer and ask if they will cancel it."

And if it goes to court in this case?

Dixon has this advice: "It's easy for me to say, but don't worry about this going to court as a judge will likely invoke the legal principle of De minimis non curat lex ('the law does not concern itself with trifles'). A trivial (de minimis) breach is not significant enough to justify the charge, and your case ought to be dismissed."

Coupon-mad

Can anyone see this full article?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/mailplus/article-15431475/appeal-parking-charges-quash-tips-LEE-BOYCE.html

All I can see is this: