Snowhill retail park- 1 minute wait outside proper bay

justobserving88

Hello

I’m a support worker for young people in care- I recently went to the Snowhill retail park Wakefield. There were no spaces near the shop, so the young person jumped out and I waited 1 minute 5 seconds outside before they came and we left.

I since received a £60 fine for this. I’ve familiarised myself with the advise and have taken steps to try find out the landowner, although this is proving difficult. I will check if they can cancel this first if possible.

Just checking if anyone else has advice here as it seems quite harsh overall. I wasn’t blocking a busy thoroughfare. I was there barely over a minute and I remained in the car so could have moved it if necessary for other motorists etc. I also understood there to be a 10 minute grace period.

Just checking if anyone else had general advice for this situation, and also a long shot if anyone had also appealed to this landowner and could share those details.

Many thanks

Le_Kirk

There is a 10 minute consideration period, during which you can read the signs and decide whether to stay or not. What did the signs actually state. (A grace period is at the end of your parking period). BTW, it is not a fine (magistrates issue fines) it is an invoice. Keep following the advice in the NEWBIE sticky. Have you tried to find the retail park on Google street view? Sometimes you can see the totem, which informs you of the managing agents of the retail park.

ETA A quick search shows it might be: -

• Managing/Letting Agent: Vickers Carnley (Wakefield).

Coupon-mad

"quite harsh overall"?!

It is a complete scam, illegally relying on covert camera surveillance and zero grace period to read the signs. There is not a 10 min grace period on arrival but there should be at least 5 minutes to read the contract, learn you are being filmed on CCTV, and leave.

You should have driven out and parked on street to let the passenger alight then board. Perfectly OK to do that on double yellows. It is what they are there for.

You'll never have to pay this invoice.

justobserving88

Yes it’s really a disgrace they are still operating in this way. The time-cost in having to research and fight it is insane and it’s sad that so many will just pay it.

@Le_Kirk thanks, honestly I don’t know what the signs said as it seemed so innocuous at the time I didn't imagine it would be an issue. The only Google images are from 2018 and I can’t make anything out clearly. I will go back to check the signage.

I’ve sent emails to the that contact and also some others who have been listed in various places. Hopefully I’ll hear back

1505grandad

"Yes it’s really a disgrace they are still operating in this way."

And all handed to them on a plate by the DVLA selling motorists private data willy-nilly to the scammers with no human intervention.

justobserving88

"You should have driven out and parked on street to let the passenger alight then board. Perfectly OK to do that on double yellows. It is what they are there for."

Just given the setout of the retail park it was not particularly convenient for the person I was supporting (could have lead to further challenges, but I understand they won't really consider this)- given it would only take a minute I thought it would be ok.

Apparently Vickers Carnley don't manage the car park and don't know who do. I'll keep chasing it up and will ask some of the businesses when I go back to check the signage.

"And all handed to them on a plate by the DVLA selling motorists private data willy-nilly to the scammers with no human intervention."

Yeah i'd not thought about it from this angle. There should really be a legal challenge to this. I guess the government are happy to keep bringing in tax dollers from these companies so aren't incentivised to address it.

Coupon-mad

On the contrary, a law was passed in 2019 and the Government is addressing it but it is painfully slow and they keep getting it wrong, so the motoring organisations and I shout at them!

I'm on the Government Steering Group shaping the new Code of Practice and new incoming statutory regime and they are used to me giving my opinion!

justobserving88

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81892836#Comment_81892836

Well they are promising signs at least. Hopefully they get there in the end.

Gr1pr

Definitely Not a fine ( UKPC issue PCN's, not fines )

Definitely Not £60 either ( its £100 but reduced to £60 for early settlement )

I am not convinced that the government is making money out of this in terms of tax dollars. !

Appeal or Ignore it, court is the ultimate decision maker, if it got to a hearing

justobserving88

Yeah I can’t find any info about who’s managing the site. I’ve made numerous enquiries and left messages but not getting any replies. I will just appeal.

Just to clarify I should avoid personal mitigating circumstances here and focus on:

I dispute this Parking Charge as the registered keeper of the vehicle. I deny any liability or contractual agreement and I will be making a complaint to the landowner about this predatory conduct.
There will be no admissions as to who was driving and no assumptions can be drawn.
I require a full explanation of the allegation and your complete evidence. Specifically:

• Grace/Consideration Period
  The recorded duration of stay is 1 minute and 5 seconds. This falls entirely within the minimum consideration period mandated by the BPA Code of Practice, which requires that motorists be given a reasonable period upon entering a car park to read the terms, decide whether to accept them, and leave if they do not wish to. No reasonable interpretation of any Code of Practice or contract law could hold that 65 seconds constitutes an actionable breach. The charge is therefore entirely without merit and should be cancelled immediately.

• Signage
  You must provide close-up photographic evidence of every sign you contend was clearly displayed and legible at the location on 04/02/2026, including any sign setting out the specific term allegedly breached (“parked in a roadway”) and the charge amount in sufficiently large lettering. A distant or partial photograph will not suffice.

• Landowner Authority
  You must provide evidence that UK Parking Control Ltd has the authority of the landowner to issue charges at this location, including a copy of the contract with the landowner granting such authority.

Grace Period Agreed with Landowner
You must confirm the exact grace period agreed in writing with the landowner for this specific location.
Name and address of keeper:

Added: “Without prejudice to the above, and without making any admissions as to who was driving, I would also note for the record that the vehicle was present for a period of 65 seconds. During this time the vehicle was stationary briefly while a passenger completed a very short errand. This is precisely the type of brief, considerate stop the road network and retail parks exist to facilitate.”

Coupon-mad

Remove this, as they don't have to:

"Grace Period Agreed with Landowner
You must confirm the exact grace period agreed in writing with the landowner for this specific location."

Add to this:

Without prejudice to the above, and without making any admissions as to who was driving, kindly note that the vehicle was present for a period of c60 seconds to drop off/pick up a passenger, which the real (non-bent) MHCLG Code clearly states that a period of parking does NOT include passenger pick up or set down, which is exempt activity.