Driver hits out at 'unfair' fines
MOTORISTS are furious after receiving £50 parking fines for 'unwittingly' leaving their vehicles on a disused car park.
At last five drivers discovered tickets on their windscreens after returning to Castle Street Car Park, off Cannon Street, in Hanley on Sunday.
-
FINE FURY: Steven Miller, aged 31, of Silverdale, with his parking ticket outside Castle Street Car Park in Hanley. Inset, vehicles on the site when the fencing was open. Picture: Wesley Webster
The site was blocked off in July to make way for the new Central Business District but the fencing had been removed.
Steven Miller had tried to buy a ticket at the pay-and-display machine but after seeing it was out of order he purchased one at the nearby Cannon Street machine.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
He then left a note on his dashboard explaining the steps he had taken.
The call centre operative, of Buxton Avenue, Silverdale, said: "I couldn't believe it when I saw the parking ticket.
"There were about 10 cars on the parked up when I arrived at 8am so I assumed it was open to the public."
He added: "I didn't think anything of it until I came back from the nearby market and saw the parking fine.
"There were at least four other people there whose cars had fines on them.
"The gates should have been locked. I don't know who opened it but you can see why people thought it was open, there's no big sign, just a piece of paper attached to a lamppost."
The parking fine will be reduced to £25 if it is paid within 14 days.
Steven added: "I don't even care about the money, I just think it's the duty of the council to make it clear that the car park is closed. It's very unfair."
Seamus O'Doud, aged 57, who works in the city centre and used to park on Castle Street car park, said: "It's been closed for a while but you see cars on there occasionally.
"I assumed they were workmen but it's easy to mistake them for other members of the public."
Councillor Ruth Rosenau, cabinet member for regeneration, planning and transportation, said any motorists who felt they were unfairly given a ticket can appeal.
She added: "This closure was well publicised on site. Fencing was installed and notices were placed on site.
"We have been made aware the fencing is being moved and vehicles have started to park there and we are taking steps to ensure it remains secure.
"Any vehicle parking on this area may be liable to receive a penalty charge notice.
"However any motorist who receives penalty charge notices for parking in this area is free to appeal in writing to parking services as directed on the rear of the penalty charge notice."
Comments
by stevenweiss
Thursday, October 11 2012, 11:55PM
“I suspect the council are still seething at Tesco's free parking and are intent on vengeance”
by riccy
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 4:21PM
“If it is a council car park, then the statutory penalties apply. However, the council has stated that it is closed, it is not a council car park: so they cannot issue statutory penalty notices to vehicles parked there. They can only sue for trespass.”
by viking1956
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 4:01PM
“stokeandvale
stop harping on about money lost at vale when as much was lost selling the brit at a knock down price ! but i agree with you about this useless clueless labour council.
How about this for a revolutionary idea,next election day we dont all go running to the polls to vote them back in !!!”
by stokeandvale
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 3:34PM
“This LABOUR JOKE of a so called a "DESPERATE", anything to get money, to pay for The Vale £1.5MILLLION quid, £50 Million for new shiny buidings for themeselves!
They could not care less about Joe Public unless they can fleece them of a few quid.”
by wolstanton
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 3:03PM
“oops previous comment a typo! I have been going to this market in hanley for the last 5 weeks and in that time the ticket machine has always been out of order and the gate opened.The first time I went on this car park to go to the market one of the attendents informed me on asking where to get a ticket that the council let people park here on a sunday for free to visit said market.I do not know if the market personnel work for the council but if so why does one council employee say one thing and another says something else,on top of this why is there no notices and a working ticket machine?”
by wolstanton
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 2:59PM
“12”
by johnwhite18
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 9:21PM
“Anyone that gets a parking ticket needs to go to court that way the courts will say back off on fines old boy”
by johnwhite18
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 9:18PM
“On the plus side it keep's a jobs worth in work”
by DTrotter
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 8:55PM
“You would think this day and age we would all realize that there's no such thing as a free parking space in our towns, chances are Stoke On Trent city council deliberately left the gate open on purpose to entice people in watch you walk away and then pounce, sounds about right to me.”
by camband
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 7:45PM
“I'm constantly reminded of the 'joys of motoring'.... Now having second thoughts; -perhaps I should have forked out the £270 for that last MOT in 2008 instead of calling it a day and putting it on the weighbridge at Hamptons.... and collecting the £115.....
I don't think so.”