Smart parking fine for 2 disabled children

lia254

Hi all, hope you can help.  £100 fine received for 12 minutes 'parking' in a bowling alley car park.  Have loaded and collected family members for years without paying as quick drop off.  On this occasion the children being collected from a party, both have blue badges (one displayed), one severely autistic with motor delays.  This child was with me due to their mother being rushed to A&E for an emergency operation and she nearly died.

Yes there was signage, and yes I appealed on 'compassionate' grounds when I realise I shouldn't have bothered.  
.
But it is the principle that infuriates me.  All other parents dropped off their children and collected them without penalty.  There is, evidently, some time allowance for this.  12 minutes would be taking the mick usually, but it couldn't be helped wonder if this is discrimination of sorts.  I'm a single parent and had to drop everything for my very traumatised godson.  Its just abhorrent.

What do you think?  

Grizebeck

When your appeal gets declined appeal to popla and use only the below
It will win.

The operator does not have a contract to issue pcns at this site

lia254

Grizebeck said:

When your appeal gets declined appeal to popla and use only the below
It will win.

The operator does not have a contract to issue pcns at this site

Will do.  Thank you!

Fruitcake

Plan A is always a complaint to the landowner and your MP. In your complaint, you should point out that the landowner and their unregulated parking agent failed to make reasonable adjustments (allowing extra time) for two disabled passengers.
This is a breach of the Equality Act 2010, and a criminal offence.

lia254

Fruitcake said:

Plan A is always a complaint to the landowner and your MP. In your complaint, you should point out that the landowner and their unregulated parking agent failed to make reasonable adjustments (allowing extra time) for two disabled passengers.
This is a breach of the Equality Act 2010, and a criminal offence.

Yes given how disgusting this is I think I might.  Thank you!

Belenus

Grizebeck said:

When your appeal gets declined appeal to popla and use only the below
It will win.

The operator does not have a contract to issue pcns at this site

How do you know that Smart do not have a contract at this site?

Is this some kind of trick wording that works with POPLA?

Grizebeck

Belenus said:

Grizebeck said:

When your appeal gets declined appeal to popla and use only the below
It will win.

The operator does not have a contract to issue pcns at this site

How do you know that Smart do not have a contract at this site?

Is this some kind of trick wording that works with POPLA?

It's worked with smart for over 12 years

Coupon-mad

Belenus said:

Grizebeck said:

When your appeal gets declined appeal to popla and use only the below
It will win.

The operator does not have a contract to issue pcns at this site

How do you know that Smart do not have a contract at this site?

Is this some kind of trick wording that works with POPLA?

Yes it works v Smart Parking.  Every time.

Fruitcake

lia254 said:

Fruitcake said:

Plan A is always a complaint to the landowner and your MP. In your complaint, you should point out that the landowner and their unregulated parking agent failed to make reasonable adjustments (allowing extra time) for two disabled passengers.
This is a breach of the Equality Act 2010, and a criminal offence.

Yes given how disgusting this is I think I might.  Thank you!

Given how disgusting this is, your "I might" should be replaced with "I will" in my opinion.

If it happened to me, I would be enraged. I have been complaining to the government and the unregulated parking industry for years to get them to comply with the law, the EA 2010, but the government don't seem to understand, and the parking companies just want to continue ripping off disabled motorists or disabled passengers because it makes them money.

Half_way

Where is this site?

 is it the bowling alleys site, or a site with other retailers

odds on the car park has ANPR ( automatic number plate recognition) cameras on a pole that give people 10 minutes or so before logging the vehicle as an overstay and issuing a parking charge notice.

These systems make no provision or any other adjustments for those with disabilities, the landowner will be jointly liable for the actions of its agents

lia254

Fruitcake said:

lia254 said:

Fruitcake said:

Plan A is always a complaint to the landowner and your MP. In your complaint, you should point out that the landowner and their unregulated parking agent failed to make reasonable adjustments (allowing extra time) for two disabled passengers.
This is a breach of the Equality Act 2010, and a criminal offence.

Yes given how disgusting this is I think I might.  Thank you!

Given how disgusting this is, your "I might" should be replaced with "I will" in my opinion.

If it happened to me, I would be enraged. I have been complaining to the government and the unregulated parking industry for years to get them to comply with the law, the EA 2010, but the government don't seem to understand, and the parking companies just want to continue ripping off disabled motorists or disabled passengers because it makes them money.

You are right.  I will write to my MP and I really appreciate your advice.  I am enraged.  I submitted the appeal on POPLA today - felt a bit strange writing a one liner in the comments section.  I'll let you all know if that works.

Thank you for everything you do to advocate equality for all.  Were the appeal to fail, I would sooner go to court than pay them a penny - but for many people, vulnerable or otherwise, it is an extremely stressful process for them.