Parking stories in the News/media

Car1980

Council official Mike Jones explained that linking cameras to pay-and-display machines or virtual permits would alert officers to vehicles that haven’t paid.

https://pre.hillingdon.gov.uk/news/article/51/council-to-roll-out-new-parking-technology-to-clamp-down-on-irresponsible-parking|

It's all a bit murky though.

Coupon-mad

It's a fairly expensive way to continue to ruin trade in a small town and drive people away, due to a failure to provide free parking to encourage visitors.

Parking firms don't give two hoots about the communities they infest - which is one crux of the problem with that sector - but councils have no such excuse.

Coupon-mad

Update on the farcical 'fines' dished out by Britannia at Southampton's West Quay, due to ambiguous and unfair terms on their signs.

Everyone whose parking sessions continue after 8pm appear to be getting £100 PCNs as there's no way in advance, to pay for hours beyond 8pm.

All daytime purchased tickets end then, even if you've paid for several hours intending to use the shops, a local gym, or the cinema or nearby restaurants for the evening (which you can because there's no rule about staying on site).

Local people are scared to park there now:

So bad is the scam that a well-supported Petition is running and the local Councillors are up in arms on behalf of the scared victims.

This has been discussed on lots of West Quay Southampton threads recently, including this one:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6654684/what-are-the-best-grounds-for-contesting-this-parking-charge

…where self-confessed parking firm director / employee (apologist) @Kaizen2024 (infamously) actually tried telling us it was a reasonable set of terms and that all visitors to the area had to do was run back to their cars and leave at 8pm!

Well, contrary to what that resident PPC poster thinks, Britannia are now being investigated by Trading Standards and Southampton Council:

West Quay Retail Park Parking – Some Good News at Last!

"27 Mar 2026

I have today been briefed by Southampton City Council’s Trading Standards Team about the situation with Britannia Parking and West Quay Retail Park.

I have been campaigning for the past 6 weeks against the unclear parking arrangements and on behalf of residents and visitors to the city who have been unfairly caught out and fined.

I have raised concerns and numerous cases directly with Britannia Parking who have been defensive and total uninterested in addressing the matter. So, I resorted to contacting the Council’s Trading Standards Team, who have today told me that they agree that the signage is unclear and the parking tariff arrangement is very unhelpful. They have raised the matter with a firm called Cushman and Wakefield who manage the site and who contract with Britannia Parking to administer the parking arrangements. I am told that they too agree that signage and tariffs need looking at. This is great news! Discussions are ongoing.

I have also suggested to Trading Standards that if there is acceptance that the current parking arrangements are confusing - does that not suggest that some people have been unfairly fined and should therefore receive redress? The Council agree and will be investigating this, starting with requesting details of the Penalty Charge Notices issued since May last year. I don’t have a timescale for next steps yet, but I will keep in close contact with Trading Standards and update when I can.

Some of the stories I have received are very sad, with some people receiving numerous fines, and some seriously distressed and worried about the financial impacts on them. I want this resolved and to see fairness.

 I also want people not to be put off from coming to Southampton

, whether to shop, to eat out or visit the theatre, cinema or come to the football. None of the businesses which this carpark serves I think want to see people put off either."

Good work, sir!

The BPA must be so proud.

Coupon-mad

Hospital parking 'deeply inhumane' as man fined while visiting sick wife

Concerns have been raised about the "over zealous" enforcement of parking restrictions at Aintree Hospital

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/hospital-parking-deeply-inhumane-man-33659589.amp

A man frantic with worry about his desperately ill wife, was issued with a parking fine after rushing to visit her at their local A&E department.

Stephen O'Rourke, 56, has called the parking enforcement rules at this Hospital 'deeply inhumane' and believes it's far too focused on making money, rather than the convenience of visitors.

Mr O'Rourke detailed what happened on the day of his wife's hospital admission. He told us she had suffered a fall, breaking her hip in the process, and was subsequently diagnosed with sepsis.

"I was in and out of the hospital, going back and forth, and very worried and distressed about my wife. Due to the situation of getting her into a ward, I was waiting in there for about 24 straight hours at first, before I went home to pick some things up and see if I could get a little sleep.

I park as close as I can to the entrance to the hospital and use my blue badge due to my disability, and I also have heart failure and respiratory problems. After going home, I'd gone back to the hospital, parked my car, not obstructing anyone or anywhere."

Mr O'Rourke said he came out of the hospital and saw he had a ticket, and also noticed other cars parked in the disabled bays with tickets, he said: "It just seems like the first thought is 'how do we make money from these parking bays' rather than, how can we make this as easy as possible for people to visit and make it stress free".

********************************************

I couldn't read the rest but found this about it on Facebook. Not sure if Aintree Hospital still issue their own PCNs (they used to, years ago, and had a terrible reputation) but this targeting of disabled people is being done daily and on foot:

Not heard of 'reasonable adjustments' or your legal duties under the Equality Act 2010 then, Aintree Hospital?

Shame on you.

Car1980

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81940423#Comment_81940423

I don't understand the red text under the night rate. You get the first hour free? Would that be any hour you want after 8? But then it says that's only if you leave after 60 mins?

But then it says the £100 charge is for exceeding time *paid for*? But a free hour isn't paid for?

nigelbb

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81941456#Comment_81941456

You only get a free hour if you leave after 60 minutes otherwise it's £1/hour.

BlueonBlue

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81941522#Comment_81941522

Rubbish its not clear at all….. its intended/intentional confusion because they will profit from no one understanding .

At no point is any of it about parking its all about profit via confusion and bully tactics .

Coupon-mad

Yes I think we all agree. Including @nigelbb

🙂

pustit

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81941522#Comment_81941522

No. What we should be saying is exactly the opposite! "You only get a free hour if you leave by the time the 60 minutes are up". Not "after 60 minutes", that is plainly wrong and how would a judge interpret that.

Nellymoser

Britannia Parking may regret ignoring everyone who said their signs at West Quay retail car park were confusing now Trading Standards and possibly the CMA are now involved.