Parking stories in the News/media

Nellymoser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81859187#Comment_81859187

Managed to read the full article this time but on previous attempts I couldn't. Here's most of the missing details…

Mr Woods was able to demonstrate in court that he had paid the correct parking fee.

The Deputy District Judge ruled that Minster Baywatch had not provided sufficient evidence to prove he had entered his details incorrectly. Claim was dismissed and judge ordered Minster Baywatch to cover Mr Woods' travel expenses for attending court.

Mr Woods, who represented himself said: "I am really pleased that the judge threw out Minster Baywatch's claim". "It is a national scandal that private parking companies are pursuing claims against members of the public and using the threat of court action as a means of bullying people into paying money they do not owe.

"It is about time that the Government stepped in to properly reform the private parking industry to stop these practices and to ensure that members of the public are not subjected to the worry and distress that I suffered in this case."

Mr Woods, who lost his wife just weeks before the incident, said the experience had shaken his confidence and raised concerns about the accessibility of digital-only parking systems for older people.

He had parked at the Grosvenor car park while attending a medical appointment at NHS Bolton One Health Centre, only to later discover that the fine had been issued because the payment system had only recorded the last three digits of his registration number.

Mr Woods also called on Bolton NHS Foundation Trust to end its contract with a private parking company, which manages parking at Royal Bolton Hospital, because of the distress fines and appeals can cause.

A spokesman for Bransby Wilson Parking Solutions, which supplies and maintains the payment machines at the Grosvenor centre, told The Bolton News in October: "The four Flowbird Strada units on site are configured to issue a receipt for every payment made and meet all UK accessibility standards.

"The machines would not produce a receipt unless payment was made.

"They meet all relevant UK accessibility standards including the Equality Act 2010 and feature high-contrast, anti-glare screens, tactile keypads and multiple payment options."

There is a countrywide problem with PPC machines NOT printing full and correct car reg details. Since the industry continually deny there is a problem it's time the Govt intervened and appointed an independent assessor to investigate these 'problem' machines.

daveyjp

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81859160#Comment_81859160

The list of airport drop off fees should also state if there is a free option. I have never paid at Leeds Bradford. There is a one hour free parking area 3-4 minutes walk from the terminal.

Le_Kirk

Also to add about the new Rich Editor (and I've held back in case it got better) if you quote a post, add some text and post it, you cannot then go back and edit the quoted bit - definitely a retrograde step!

Nellymoser

A cancer patient attending the James Paget Hospital, Gorleston has spoken out about what she describes as a “shameful” parking system that penalises drivers for circumstances beyond their control.

With nothing to warn drivers the car parks are full to overflowing drivers find themselves trapped, stuck in a slow queue of barely moving vehicles, unable exit or park.

The patient is now calling on APCOA - the company which runs the carpark - and the hospital to reinstate parking barriers or introduce clearer warnings when carparks are full.

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/25797456.cancer-patient-makes-complaint-james-paget-hospital/

Jenni_D

The way to do a link is to:

• Paste in the text (the actual link, or the text you want to contain the link)
• Highlight it
• Select the option to make it a link
• Paste the link into the URL box

For example:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81861525#Comment_81861525

Edit: the "Rich Editor" (an oxymoron if I've ever seen one) also doesn't convert standard text to emojis … like :) to 🙂 … what a palaver! 🙄

Nellymoser

In the BPA Parking News

https://issuu.com/jpp01/docs/parking_news_january_february_2026

Page 27 - New powers for CMA

what does this mean for the parking sector?

Well obviously nothing as the sector say they are fair transparent and comply with consumer laws. If that's untrue the sector will find itself on the CMA naughty list subjected to some of the measures and financial penalties BPA Lawline outline in the article.

Page 21 - The true cost of free parking

Our panel explores the real financial operational and behavioural impacts of giving away free parking.

MothballsWallet

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81859530#Comment_81859530

"The machines would not produce a receipt unless a payment was made."

Er, excuse me, do Bransby Wilson have the Flowbird payment machines (and I'm sure I've seen Flowbird advertising their machines onYouTube) with the infinite receipt paper feed system?

Machines break down, they run out of thermal paper, they have failures between the core hardware of the machine and the printer unit.

For the love of Hagan, this spokesman seems to live in a world of delusion…

Nellymoser

Charity Wivey Link moves out of town over fears of car parking charges

“If parking charges in Wiveliscombe come in, the cost for our five cars and those of our volunteer drivers each day would be prohibitive.

The charity is relocating to the nearby hamlet of Ford from February 13.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/charity-moves-town-over-fears-163007272.html

Nellymoser

Business owner slapped with fine over small arrow sign directing customers to store

Lee said Worcester City Council issued the fine without any warning or prior communication. “We had no phone call, e-mail or letter to take the sign down. We were just banged with a fine."

A Council spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were distributed by Worcester City Council. The unauthorised display of advertising material is not permitted under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Section S224/s225A.”

Wonder how many penalty fines the Council have issued to PPCs they are well known for their unauthorised display of advertising material.

https://discover.swns.com/2026/02/business-owner-slapped-with-fine-over-small-arrow-sign-directing-customers-to-store/

kryten3000

IPC yet again pretending they're on the side of the "compliant" motorist:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/international-parking-community-ipc_should-the-level-of-the-parking-charge-be-activity-7424739275012829184-u-Uq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAAnKEUBmVOlJy1rOdt3GdZyIL4rpWqIlWw