Fury as drivers hit with £100 fine from 'rip off' car park without even using it
18.05.2022 - 22:29
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Drivers have been left furious after being hit with fines from a seaside town car park - that they haven't even used.
Sea View Car Park in New Polzeath, Padstow in Cornwall has been handing out charges to motorists who have driven into to the car park but left soon after after failing to find a space.
The problem is due to new automated licence plate reading cameras being installed that scan car number plates as they enter, the Mirror reports.
Because the operator does not allow for any leeway time for drivers to find a parking spot, it means many are have received a £100 fine for simply driving in and then out again a few minutes later.
The car park, operated by Newquay -based Alliance Parking has proved so confusing for people that it has led to rising anger in the area - so much so that people blasted it for being ‘a scam’.
Regular car park user Hazel Belle Thompson posted in the We Love Rock and Polzeath Facebook group: “It’s camera operated. As soon as you drive in, your car and reg are taken.
“I work locally and got caught out for being 14 minutes over even though I spend £40 at least every week in this car park. I lost a full day’s wages in a parking fine for 14 minutes over.”
Resident Louise Wonnacott said there is a right of way across the car park to where she lives but she’s been clocked four times ‘not parking’ but driving through in the last few months for ‘not parking’ when she just drove through.
Vicks Campion added: “My poor mum got a ticket as she sat in the car while I dropped a wet suit off at Ann’s cottage. We were precisely four minutes and 20 seconds.”
The growing local anger comes as the sign at the car park is confusing about the times the facility is in operation.
The sign says people have to pay