Parking stories in the News/media

B789

Half_way said:

And another:

 https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/driver-sutton-coldfield-handed-160-26589705

Driver enters a car park, someone gets out of the vehcile then they swap drivers and the car leaves after staying for three minutes.

 usual rubbish from IPC PPC, Ipark

“The driver of the vehicle must enter the full and correct vehicle registration into the payment system selected.” It goes onto say a breach of any of the conditions will result in the driver being liable for a parking charge £100. If that is not paid a £60 collection fee is added.

try doing that in three minutes, plus reading the rubish on the signage

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/driver-sutton-coldfield-handed-160-26589705#comments-wrapper

After getting in touch with the journalist who wrote this article, he has put the victim in touch with me and I have advised her to register on this forum for further advice. 

Coupon-mad

Very good work. Have you shown her what we said about her case on this thread?

B789

I have responded and provided a link to the forum with advice to register. I've also offered to advise if she doesn't feel comfortable with using the forum but I think she probably will come here as she has not been afraid to expose this scam in the local press. I will email a link to the actual post where the discussion about the article was first posted.

Coupon-mad

Gove seems to be taking some positive steps, perhaps prompted by the letter and deadline for response sent to the DLUHC by Clive Betts...a letter which only contained one useful thing: the need to avoid digitally discriminating against older drivers:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11943019/EXCLUSIVE-Dont-force-elderly-use-parking-apps-Gove-pleads-councils-meters.html

Suggests some urgent DLUHC conversations about Clive Betts' letter may have been taking place.  Hopefully, the DLUHC prove themselves to be less easily taken in by PPC World than the weak Committee was in 2021 where Betts ended up mainly repeating the crap raised by the four PPC 'outrageous scam' apologists.

Fruitcake

A classic double dip. Apparently ANPR scameras don't lie. Porcine Aviation Limited say all their pigs are prepared and ready for take of.

Tesco leaves customer feeling like a 'criminal' after supermarket makes mistake that could catch anyone out (msn.com)

Coupon-mad

This guy who did a protest at McDonalds will get a PCN later this month for more than the £71 he complained about:

"David Shepherd took his position on the counter of the Chestfield drive-thru last night and claimed he would not move until he got his full order.

During the drive-thru sit in, Mr Shepherd sat for two and a half hours on the counter - vowing not to move until his order was fulfilled - and then moved his car into the drive-thru for a further hour, Kent Online reports."

Coupon-mad

Which? publishes a half-baked and frankly awful article about appealing a private parking charge.

The article writer failed to ask the AA or RAC for comments and just spouted rubbish from the parking industry, including saying the onus is on the driver (as if it's their fault) and no suggestion that the PPCs are in fact out of control:
https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/car-sharks-the-rise-of-private-parking-fines-and-how-to-appeal-them-aPYed9L3iwSS

And if you click on the dreadful "appeal letter" for PPCs it talks about the Road Traffic Act and says 'the contravention did not occur'.

NOTHING about complaining first to retailers.

Zero use to consumers.

Coupon-mad

Pub gets greedy and decides to inflict ANPR on locals (saying the car park is for their customers only) even though they have been benefitting for years, from regular income from town visitors using their pay & display car park which encourages footfall along the high street:

https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/23424364.croxley-greens-red-house-pub-talks-parking-row/

The Red House in Watford Road, Croxley Green, brought in ANPR (seemingly without consulting with any local businesses or the Council) to "clamp down on non-customers using its car park, after previously operating a pay and display system."

At first glance what the pub wants to do might (almost) seem reasonable but it has angered local traders and the row has escalated to the Council...

...who have stepped in and reminded Greene King that Three Rivers District Council previously had an agreement with the chain to allow public access to the car park.

"A spokesperson added that the council recently became aware of the move and has since been “working to engage Greene King on behalf of residents and businesses..."

The Red House in Watford Road, Croxley Green you are NAMED AND SHAMED FOR UNNECESSARILY INFLICTING ANPR ON THE HIGH STREET AND IN TURN, OBVIOUSLY LOSING YOURSELF PASSING TRADE BECAUSE PEOPLE WON'T GO THERE ANY MORE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T USE OTHER SHOPS AS WELL AS THE PUB.

Are Greene King stupid?

KeithP

Coupon-mad said:

The Red House in Watford Road, Croxley Green, brought in ANPR...

At first glance what the pub wants to do might (almost) seem reasonable...

I would imagine that the pub car park gets quite full every day with people who walk less than a hundred yards along the road to catch a Met line Underground train into central London from Croxley Station. Of course Croxley Station has a car park but they charge.

Edited to add...
Google Street View shows that the Red House car park has been  'pay and display' since at least 2014.

Coupon-mad

But so did this car park, pay & display for years.