Parking stories in the News/media

yarpsnehpets

Would a Council provided parking place still be classed as relevant land under POFA?

GrannyKate

The Parish Council minutes will probably be published already but it is likely that any Legal Advice they received will be exempt from release under FOIA.

daveyjp

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82088918#Comment_82088918

Why would advice be exempt? Its a Parish Council not MI5.

GrannyKate

It is not an absolute exemption but they are almost certain to want to invoke it;

https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/foi/freedom-of-information-and-environmental-information-regulations/section-42-legal-professional-privilege/

Coupon-mad

I think I will rattle their cage with an FOI and I'll ask Acle PC:

• who the ANPR contractor is
• a copy of the contract
• how long the contract lasts for
• whether the contract includes a right for the landowner to ask to cancel some PCNs to avoid consumer harm
• whether there is a mechanism for disabled motorists to claim extended time on site to avoid illegal 'overstay' PCNs going to persons who have the Equality Act 2010 (EA) right to more time as an anticipatory reasonable adjustment (see the EHRC statutory Equality Act Code of Practice for Services and Public Functions), and
• what steps did Acle PC take to ensure that the (planned later) extended time to '3 hours free parking' that they think they are in control of, cannot be refused by the contractor under excuse that they won't catch enough people/won't make enough money?
• what steps did Acle PC take to ensure the system and idea to run these public car parking spaces in an off-street car park 'as if it's private land', in fact complies with the Deregulation Act 2015 (specifically the ban on ANPR to generate off-street PCNs by post. And on what basis do they believe that the formal letter to local authorities, sent by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Robert Goodwill MP and which strictly warned councils against doing this, doesn't apply to them?

And I'll ask for

1. a copy of the contract

2. a copy of their (or their agent's) Data Protection Impact Assessment made in advance of commencing surveillance, under the DUA Act 2025 because under that Act - and to comply with published ICO rules for ANPR use - they had to show legitimate (not monetary) reasons to justify 'first resort' camera surveillance instead of the fairer, non-cash-cow (for their agent) approach of wardens on foot, and

3. a copy of their Disability Impact Assessment made in advance under their EA legal duty, used to justify the fixed policy of 2 hours, given that accessible blue badge spaces appear to be bound to the same fixed policy time limit as able bodied people, which is illegal under the EA and the related EHRC statutory CoP.

Nellymoser

Customers found Lyme Regis Town Council 'free parking days' weren't free after all and some got fined

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjwgx57q70po

After hearing the complaints the Members of Cobb Traders business group who had promoted the parking offer to their customers, submitted a FOI request to the Council.

It revealed the Council had collected parking fees on all 12 of its free parking days between Oct 2024 and May 2026, totalling more than £10,000. This did not include any payment machine takings for 5 of the 12 free days because the machines had since been replaced.

The town Council said:

"We have recently become aware that, on some free parking dates during the past two years, the arrangements were not adequately implemented.

"As a result, some visitors may have paid for parking when it should have been free, and a number of pcns may also have been issued.

"We apologise for the error and would be happy to provide a refund to anyone affected if evidence is produced within six months.

WOW! What a response from the Council.

Half_way

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82088931#Comment_82088931

https://acleparishcouncil.gov.uk/category/meetings/minutes/page/2/

Minutes of meeting 29th September 2025

and Clerks report 15th September 2025

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=ANPR+site%3Ahttps%3A%2F%2Facleparishcouncil.gov.uk%2F

Nellymoser

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/controversy-parking-charges-introduced-popular-180000127.html

Flintshire County Council is facing a backlash ahead of introducing parking charges at Wepre Park, North Wales

Local authority officials have defended it as a vital move to preserve the site. The extra revenue is crucial to maintaining the 160-acre green space. The sudden shift from historically free parking has provoked anger among regular users, who fear the fees will penalise local families, dog walkers, and joggers

Locals have also complained the move is symbolic of moves by local authorities to charge more for all services despite rapidly rising council tax bills.

Online, a woman said: "The endless charging to use public areas – such a joy! At least the air we breathe is free, for now at least...."

Nellymoser

https://www.punchline-gloucester.com/articles/aanews/exclusive-bid-to-stop-parking-abuse-sees-camera-installed-at-aldi-and-costa-coffee-site

Parkineye ANPR cameras have been installed at a busy Cheltenham retail park in a bid to stop "parking abuse" and ensure spaces are available for retail customers visiting Aldi, Costa Coffee and Little Pioneers Nursery & Pre-school.

New signs at the Corinthian Park warns drivers they risk getting a £100 charge if they exceed the new two-hour max stay.

The article states: There have been parking issues in the past in the Arle Court area, with workers from GCHQ and businesses such as Ultra, Asda and B&Q all trying to find somewhere free to park all day.

But why would workers from these neighbouring businesses have to find somewhere else to park surely their employers site have a car park and staff vehicles would be whitelisted if PPC managed.

Nellymoser

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3w0xw8ywvjo

Trevor Taylor said he spent about 16 minutes charging his vehicle in the car park of the Lidl store in Barton-upon-Humber, North Lincolnshire.

"I don't think people realise that you're not allowed to do this outside of store hours," he said.

"People believe that chargers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year."

Taylor pointed out that the charging point could be found through EV apps that showed it was available 24 hours a day.

It's exactly the same with the parcel lockers, the website and customer correspondence say lockers are available 24/7.

Yet Lidl and PPC say these services are not. So why do these EV charger and parcel locker companies not know that. Did Lidl forget to tell them that customers would not have 24/7 access to their services in Lidl’s car park.