Drivers fined £100 after using car park to access parcel lockers

Drivers have been left "shocked and upset" after receiving £100 fines for using a pub car park to access parcel lockers, a councillor says.

People were handed the fines after parking outside the Church Inn in Llanishen, Cardiff, for what they said was "two or three minutes" to use the lockers.

They argue there is a lack of clear signage, saying a grace period should be implemented.

New Generation Parking Management, an external company that runs the car park, said parking charges were not issued unfairly or without reason. It also said drivers were given a 10-minute grace period.

Bethan Proctor, a councillor for Llanishen, said: "People are shocked and upset and feel like they have been treated unfairly."

She said up to 20 people had been affected, and added: "Without a doubt there will be more people who receive a fine and they will pay because they want it over and done with."

She said people had felt "really threatened" after receiving the fine letters, and a "wider discussion" was needed about parking enforcement companies.

The Reverend Canon Gareth Rayner-Williams, who received a fine and has spoken to others who were penalised, said: "Among the most striking cases were two locker users who received £60 charges after being on site for just two minutes and five seconds, and three minutes and seven seconds respectively.

"It's difficult to see how any observer could regard these brief stops as parking. These are not isolated incidents."

Sion Davies, who lives in the area, used the locker and was also fined.

"I was only two minutes posting a parcel and I then received a parking ticket for £100 from New Generation Parking," he said.

"It was a classic pay within 14 days, and it's reduced to £60, but I felt I had to object to it."

He appealed and said it had been unclear for locker users how to use the car park.

The lockers have now been switched off and will be removed over the coming weeks.

Plaid Cymru's Dafydd Trystan, a Member of the Senedd (MS) for Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf, said it was "disgraceful" that local residents were facing fines for using the lockers.

"The residents of Llanishen should be able to access these lockers without fear of heavy fines," he said.

A spokesperson for New Generation Parking said: "We do not accept the suggestion that parking charges are issued unfairly or without reason.

"Parking charge notices are only issued where the advertised parking terms and conditions have not been complied with, with each notice supported by evidence captured by the parking management system".

They said the signage at the location had been "independently audited" to "clearly communicate" the parking terms and conditions and drivers were given a 10-minute grace period to decide to accept those.

"We are aware of comments circulating on social media regarding this location," the spokesperson said.

"While we recognise that some individuals are dissatisfied after receiving parking charges, we do not consider these to be representative of the overall operation of the site."

A spokesperson for the Church Inn said its car park had "terms and conditions displayed throughout the site", and the pub's owner did not receive any "financial benefit" from the fines.