Driver slams £100 fine for 'parking in free car park'

Shops confirm no charges apply

THIS is the controversdial fine notice sent to a Newbury shopper, demanding £100...supposedly for parking in a free car park.

The ticket was issued by a private parking enforcement firm, Sheffield-based Vehicle Control Services Ltd, and clearly states that Janis Clanchy, of Newtown Common, is being penalised for overstaying at “the privately-operated car park at London Road Retail Park, Newbury”.

There’s just one problem – the car park is free and there are no restrictions, signs or cameras.

Mrs Clanchy and her husband Doug initially assumed she had been fined because she visited several stores at the retail park on the day the fine was issued. But the lack of cameras and the fact the car park is unrestricted suggest otherwise.

Mrs Clanchy did, however, also shop at stores at the London Road junction with Faraday Road – where Vehicle Control Services Ltd does have enforcement signs and cameras.

The fine – which offers the inducement of a reduction to £60 if paid promptly – is accompanied by photographs of Mrs Clanchy’s car.

It claims she arrived at the retail park at 9.53am and did not leave until 1.18pm.

But, even if this refers to the stores near Faraday Road, the Clanchys say this is inaccurate.

Mr Clanchy said: “My wife briefly visited the shops by Faraday Road twice, so she should not have incurred any penalty for overstaying any two-hour limit.”

The Clanchys had been shopping that day at Dunelm Mill, at the retail park and initially felt that they had been misled about free parking advertised on its website.

A spokeswoman for Dunelm Mill, Heather Price, said: “The car park at our Newbury store at London Road Retail Park is free and we do not issue tickets.”

She said the firm was “very disappointed” to learn that customers were apparently being issued with tickets “from a car park down the road... being incorrectly referred to as London Road Retail Park.”

Ms Price added: “If any customers have any problems at our car park, they should get in touch with the store.”

Vehicle Control Services Ltd declined to discuss the matter, but asked for any queries to be put in writing.

Newburytoday.co.uk’s sister publication, the Newbury Weekly News, did so but the firm has not responded.