Council sublet leisure carpark

Tazman1969

I thought I just ask the question about what the council can and can't do with their carparks, remembered something about a council carpark in Norwich a while back sublet to a private parking operator. 

Basically the council has allowed Smart parking to take over the running of the Leisure carpark, and they have straight away thrown up cash cameras at the entrance away from the main carpark. 

So the carpark is small compared to the size of the centre and often you can't find a space and need to drive out again and park elsewhere. 

This is where the payday comes in for them as the payment for parking is 40p for 0 to 30 min, so soon as you drive out again they issue a parking invoice for non payment. 

There has been many hit by dropping off children for swimming lessons etc, then driving out to do shopping or whatever, then picking up again. Win win for Smart.....

I have spoken to the manager of the centre ( despite loads of complaints unwilling to do anything) so have tried to get some information directly from the council about grace periods etc without any luck. 

Many thanks 

Coupon-mad

Which Council?

No a Lical Authority cannot allow a private firm to do this.  The only exceptions are Housing land and Country parks.

Tazman1969

Banbury council Oxfordshire, the Leisure centre is Spiceball in Banbury. 

Coupon-mad

Make a complaint to the DVLA that Smart Parking are using ANPR on behalf of a Local Authority client, which has been banned for parking spaces in off-street car parks owned or provided by LAs for 9 years (Deregulation Act 2015).

They might tell you to complain to the DLUHC, in which case, do.

Tazman1969

They may have a get out clause as the centre is run on behalf of cherwell District Council (but still owned by them) by legacy leisure, would that make any difference before I make a complaint?

Coupon-mad

I don't think so.  The car park is open to the public and owned or provided by a Council.  They are not allowed to operate as if it's private land.

Tazman1969

So I now have a local journalist who is very interested in running a story on this. Just been on the phone for over a hour giving as much information that I know regarding the Deregulation act, reference a link to this site & link to the new constitution.

They have also written to the Council asking them their actions and rights of using a private parking operator with ANPR on Council property, but the fact they have not replied to ether them or myself believe that they are trying to hide the truth 🙄.

If anyone can forward any links to other related posts of local authorities using ANPR or private parking operators (for some reason Norwich springs to mind) to help would be much appreciated. 

I have also agreed with them that they do not call them fines, but for what they are..... spectilive invoices for breech of contract.. and will hopefully say this.

NorfolkCanary

There's the Riverside Leisure centre which may be on City Council land (no idea) and has cameras pointing at the entrance exit area, with additional signage dotted around. Never been and assume you enter registration at a desk / computer.
If so, not a problem and would expect to receive a notice if I decided to flout the parking restrictions.

Edit: "Free parking up to 2½ hours is available for centre users. For longer stays you must register your car at the kiosk provided to avoid a penalty charge"

NCC1701-A

NorfolkCanary said:

There's the Riverside Leisure centre which may be on City Council land (no idea) and has cameras pointing at the entrance exit area, with additional signage dotted around. Never been and assume you enter registration at a desk / computer.
If so, not a problem and would expect to receive a notice if I decided to flout the parking restrictions.

Edit: "Free parking up to 2½ hours is available for centre users. For longer stays you must register your car at the kiosk provided to avoid a penalty charge"

You may have forgotten your own flouting of the law and looking for a way to avoid the consequences. Except here, its the council flouting the law, not the motorist.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1339905/speeding-ticket-help-please-incorrect-info-written/p1

1505grandad

Can the experts confirm whether or not the following letter is relevant in this case?:-

https://committees.westminster.gov.uk/documents/s31749/Appendix F - Letter from DfT.pdf

Coupon-mad

Tazman1969 said:

So I now have a local journalist who is very interested in running a story on this. Just been on the phone for over a hour giving as much information that I know regarding the Deregulation act, reference a link to this site & link to the new constitution.

They have also written to the Council asking them their actions and rights of using a private parking operator with ANPR on Council property, but the fact they have not replied to ether them or myself believe that they are trying to hide the truth 🙄.

If anyone can forward any links to other related posts of local authorities using ANPR or private parking operators (for some reason Norwich springs to mind) to help would be much appreciated. 

I have also agreed with them that they do not call them fines, but for what they are..... spectilive invoices for breech of contract.. and will hopefully say this.

At the top of either page 75 or page 175 of the Parking in the News / Media thread, I deliberately gathered links about similar situations (ready for FOIs & complaints when I'm bored one day!).