A COMPANY which operates the car park behind Rubery’s Co-op has been slammed after a number of drivers received fines despite not breaking any of the regulations.
The Standard was contacted by Coun Esther Gray who said a lot of motorists had reached out to her about the treatment they received from ‘Your Parking Space’.
The system uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to monitor when vehicles arrive and leave to ensure they are paying the relevant amount.
She said many had received £100 fines, or £60 if paid early, even though they had kept to the designated rules.
“There were no issues with LCP – the previous operator of the car park.
“It has only been when Your Parking Space – the new operator – took over.
“I had one elderly couple who live by the Lickey Hills and are in their 80s who could not understand why they were being charged.
“I helped them with the appeal as they did not have access to the Internet and it was overturned.
“A lot of the initial fines have been overturned at appeal which I think shows just how many errors are happening with the way the rules are being administered.”
Coun Gray added that the drivers who contacted her were ‘just the tip of the iceberg’ as there had been many posts on social media and a lot of people who ‘could not be bothered with the hassle of contesting the charges and had just forked out the cheaper £60 fee’.
Another group to be impacted by the mistakes has been the village’s RSJC bowling club.
People drop off members to play bowls and then leave but the camera has not been registering them leaving.
It has then registered them returning and leaving which has led to the computer calculating that they have parked for four hours and sends out letters demanding fees. In reality, they should not be charged at all for the two ‘drop-offs’.
Coun Gray said the parking company confirmed there had been an issue with the cameras.
She added the firm said it would be sending out an engineer but said the current system would remain in place and not be suspended until the matter was sorted.
Other criticisms include the car park not being well-maintained and no parking spaces for disabled blue badge holders.
The Standard has contacted Your Parking Space and is awaiting a reply.
