Parking stories in the News/media

yarpsnehpets

‘I stopped for 18 seconds to read a sign at Bristol Airport. It cost me £100’ | Bristol Live

MrJenkinsEsq

https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/traffic-and-travel/concerns-over-ps100-fines-at-popular-pub-after-years-of-free-parking-8959082

patient_dream

"Unfortunately, the usual process of appealing a PCN was not followed in this case. However, having looked into the circumstances of this specific case, we can confirm the parking charges have

been cancelled."

How many times do APCOA or all tthe other rogue traders FAIL in the appeals

It's extortion to collect monety and APCOA would have kept the pressure ip to pay

kryten3000

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82111823#Comment_82111823

I just posted an IAS appeal decision for this location. It appears Excel can't tell if a car entered the Pay and Display area or not because there's only one way to get there - through the Umrah supermarket area! The IAS assessor correctly (for a change) calls out the inability to show that the vehicle was parked in the wrong part of the car park and has allowed the appeal.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82125951#Comment_82125951

Coupon-mad

A Hartlepool van driver has hit out at parking bosses after a three-minute visit to Greggs for a coffee ended up costing him over £280

https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/people/greggs-coffee-ends-up-costing-hartlepool-customer-an-extra-ps281-after-parking-fine-8952668

"Rob, who works during the week in the North East and is trying to buy a house in Hartlepool, says he only learned of the situation in June by which time the cost had risen to £281.

He says he did not receive an initial letter from the parking firm about the violation and the first he knew about it was when he later opened two letters from bailiffs.

The second dated April informed him a County Court Judgement (CCJ) had been made and that he owed £281, which he subsequently paid. He has since warned a number of other drivers in the car park and is due to raise the issue with MP Jonathan Brash later this month.

Rob said:

“People are being squeezed to the hilt with mortgages, bills and everything else, and these companies can send out fines left, right and centre.” 

The Mail has approached Parking Group for a response."

Coupon-mad

https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/news-hub/news-articles/second-higher-parking-fines-trial-ends-as-evidence-is-reviewed

Helen Taverner, Head of Parking Operations and Enforcement at BCP Council, said: “This second trial has provided valuable further evidence on the impact of higher parking fines along some of our busiest coastal roads.

“We are now analysing the latest enforcement data and feedback, alongside the DfT, to understand how the trial has worked and what it tells us.

“Feedback remains extremely important and will help inform the decision-making process. We would encourage anyone who has not yet shared their views to do so before the feedback period closes on 30 September.

“We will share the results in more detail in the near future and continue to work with the DfT as it considers the next steps.”

Anyone wishing to provide feedback on the trial can do so here: 

Increased Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) Trial - Feedback Form 

The trial followed last year’s pilot, which delivered encouraging results…"

{crap snipped}

…Errr, no it didn't.

Anyway, anyone with a BCP postcode or a relative with one, why not give your feedback explaining what you think and why you didn't go to Bournemouth/Poole this year?

Coupon-mad

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/motoring/motoring-news/new-90-minute-parking-rule-34549010

Andy Burnham government urged to bring in new 90-minute rule on all UK high streets

'We need to remove the barriers that make visiting the high street harder than it needs to be'

Members of the British public are being urged to back a new campaign calling on the Government to roll out 90 minutes of free parking across town and city centres.

A parliamentary petition has been launched by retail event organiser Spring & Autumn Fair to garner support for the initiative, which it believes would attract more shoppers to high streets and level the playing field nationwide. It currently has just under 500 signatures and requires 10,000 for the issue to be raised in Parliament.

The move follows a recent survey of over 2,000 shoppers which found nearly two thirds (63%) said free parking would encourage them to visit their local high street more often.

The Voice of Retail report – commissioned by Spring & Autumn Fair – also found almost four in 10 of the 650 independent retailers polled saw free parking as the single most important move local authorities could make to support town centres.

Organisers of the campaign said a 90-minute free parking national standard would help end the inconsistency of parking rules across the UK, which they argue depends on your postcode.

Some towns have no free parking at all, while others have schemes offering just 30 minutes. Jackson Szabo, portfolio director at Spring & Autumn Fair, said: "People tell us they want vibrant town centres, independent shops and thriving local businesses. But they also want those places to be easy to visit."

He continued: "At the moment, whether you can enjoy free parking for half an hour, an hour or not at all depends entirely on your postcode. It’s become a parking postcode lottery."

Mr Szabo said consumers could show their support for local businesses by signing the petition.

"Please support this campaign to back local businesses and bring shoppers back to the high street".

Good call.

Car1980

Even better call if private car parks were legally obliged to offer it as well!

Coupon-mad

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/dismay-over-havens-plans-charge-11142700.amp

Dismay over Haven's plans to charge for parking at St Anthony's Bank Car Park

"The move has drawn disapproval from councillors and MPs

Haven has cited anti-social behaviour and illegal overnight stays at the car park as prompting the changes.

The move to make it in future a pay and display car park has received cross-party criticism. Melanie Onn MP (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes) has launched a petition against it, which already has over 850 signatures.

Two planning applications to get approval for the infrastructure for the changes to the car park went before the council's planning committee this week, which criticised the plans to end St Anthony's Bank Car Park's long-established free of charge status, with one councillor dubbing it "morally poor".

Ms Onn's petition urges decision-makers:

"to reject the introduction of parking charges at St Anthony's Bank Car Park and preserve free public access to this valued community asset".

Humberston and New Waltham Ward Cllr Simon Taylor (Reform UK) has also penned an open letter to Haven calling for a rethink on the charge plans.

Council leader Cllr Oliver Freeston has stated on social media:

"It is council land, but on a long term lease to Haven, we have checked and there was no clause inserted into that contract stating that they cannot introduce charges, unfortunately. If there was, we would step in and stop them."

With this government's move to devolution, maybe it's time local councils were given powers to step in and stop private car park operators at certain sites where motorists and/or tourism and/or businesses are being caused huge detriment, or Trading Standards identifies unfairness in rules?

The CMA did suggest there ought to be other sanctions for this rogue sector to face, not just DVLA suspensions.

That would work as a real deterrent against anti-communities conduct. Like an extension of ASBO powers?

P.S. we've heard that excuse before "anti-social behaviour and illegal overnight stays"… it's almost like ANPR firms tell landowners what to say…

I'm convinced they do, and I suspect they give them a bung.

That's what we saw reported with that daft town council that signed up with CEL for ten years with a contract that exposed the council to have to pay every unpaid PCN if they end the contract.

Coupon-mad

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/people/northampton-general-hospital-staff-launch-petition-calling-for-unfair-new-car-parking-charges-to-be-halted-8960277

Northampton General Hospital staff launch petition calling for 'unfair' new car parking charges to be halted

The petition has been sent to senior figures at Northampton General Hospital (NGH). 

It calls for the new charging system to be stopped until staff have been properly consulted and a ‘fairer method’ can be found. The changes will see staff move to a fixed monthly parking charge, with the amount they pay based on their salary.

The proposed monthly charges vary according to salary. For those earning under £25,000, the charge would be £13.50 for on-site parking or £9.50 off-site. For those earning over £25,000 to £35,000, the charge would be £22.50 on-site or £16 off-site. For those earning over £35,000 to £45,000, it would be £32.50 on-site or £23 off-site. Those earning over £45,000 to £60,000 would pay £42 on-site or £29.50 off-site, while those earning over £60,000 to £75,000 would pay £46 on-site or £32.50 off-site. For those earning more than £75,000, the charge would rise to £51.50 on-site or £36 off-site.

The petition says the blanket car parking charges are ‘unfair’ for multiple reasons. 

It reads: “Shift workers are unable to park elsewhere due to the time our shifts start and finish. We also park here less days than people who work 9-5 and yet are being charged the same.

It continues:

“Those who car share are also being disproportionately affected. Those who car share are directly contributing to reducing the cars parked in the car park but are in effect paying double. This is again unfair.

Staff are being charged a flat fee regardless of how much they are at work so if they are on annual leave or off sick they still have to pay. This is again unfair.

When the ANPR system was initially introduced, staff were consulted on introducing a parking fee and all agreed that the fairest way to implement this was based on usage.

The inability for the ANPR system to work correctly is not a reason to then blanket charge anyone that has a car registered for the car parks.

This blanket fee is in direct contradiction to the views of staff. Lastly, I do not know of a single person who works shift work that was consulted on these charges.

The views of staff have not been taken into account for this change and will be disproportionately affecting the very people that keep this place running day to day."

It ends:

“If you also disagree with how the car parking charges are being implemented then please sign this and hopefully we can show the trust that we are not accepting what is effectively a pay cut.”

UHN Director of Estates & Facilities Rob Drabble previously said:

"Following a review with colleagues and our staff-side representatives, we are moving to a fixed monthly car parking charge model with payments based on salary.

This followed challenges with our previous charging model which was not supported by our ANPR system and did not offer colleagues transparent information on the charges they paid."

So, AIUI they are saying they are unfairly changing the staff parking fee set up, AGAINST the wishes of the staff, because "our previous charging model was not supported by our ANPR system"

I'm sorry - WHAT?!!