Don't cross the line!
Lancashire Telegraph
DEFIANT parking bosses have told Blackburn motorists: "park properly - or face fines".
The company spoke out after angry shoppers forced a parking attendant to lock himself in a hut after dishing out tickets to drivers whose wheels touched the white, painted lines around bays.
The car park attendant placed £25 fine tickets on the windows of all the cars he felt had not parked centrally in bays at the free-to-park retail and leisure park on Lower Audley Street, Blackburn, on Sunday morning.
Shoppers coming out of Matalan, Staples and the nearby Vue Cinema were outraged to find the tickets on their cars, the wheels of some of which were only just touching the painted lines.
But NCP has backed its worker, insisting Blackburn drivers should take better care when manoeuvring into bays.
Tim Cowan of NCP said: "The parking spaces in the car park in question are extremely generous."
He added: "People who park outside the marked bays make it very difficult for other shoppers to park easily and get to the shops.
"We are very pleased to hear that one lady who received a fixed penalty notice says she will take more care to park properly next time - that is precisely what we are trying to encourage, so that all customers are able to park easily.
"There are ample signs around the car park explaining the regulations to customers, and information on the back of the tickets explaining the process for anyone who feels they wish to take up the matter with us."
But Pauline Smith, a Blackburn receptionist, blasted the company and its attendant for "not using common sense" and claimed they were using the tickets as an excuse to make money. Mrs Smith was ticketed after she parked outside Matalan last Sunday but said she had no choice but to park touching the white lines as a 4x4 vehicle was parked at the side of her, taking up space. She said: "This is absolutely ridiculous.
"If I hadn't parked slightly touching the white lines my husband and I would not have been able to get out of the car.
"I was only in the shop for 30 minutes and through no fault of my own have been given a £25 fine.
"I have written to Matalan and NCP to complain as this is totally unfair and I expect my ticket to be ripped up."
Another motorist, Bob Seed, 57, from Mellor , was booked while he was enjoying a swim at the JJB leisure centre.
He said: "This is absolutely bonkers. The car park attendant just said I had parked crooked.
"I had not. The car park was almost empty when I parked and after a life in the motor trade parking cars in showrooms on an exact spot I know how to park.
"The businesses which the car park serves will lose out as customers will go elsewhere."
Neil Herron from the People Say No campaign, which believes parking enforcement firms are tageting drivers just to make money, said: "It is offensive beyond belief and simply highlights that this is not about parking control but about revenue generation for private companies such as NCP.
"These tickets must be thrown out on their ears and I urge customers to show the shops that this is no way for them to behave and take their custom elsewhere."
11:23am Wednesday 13th September 2006
DEFIANT parking bosses have told Blackburn motorists: "park properly - or face fines".
The company spoke out after angry shoppers forced a parking attendant to lock himself in a hut after dishing out tickets to drivers whose wheels touched the white, painted lines around bays.
The car park attendant placed £25 fine tickets on the windows of all the cars he felt had not parked centrally in bays at the free-to-park retail and leisure park on Lower Audley Street, Blackburn, on Sunday morning.
Shoppers coming out of Matalan, Staples and the nearby Vue Cinema were outraged to find the tickets on their cars, the wheels of some of which were only just touching the painted lines.
But NCP has backed its worker, insisting Blackburn drivers should take better care when manoeuvring into bays.
Tim Cowan of NCP said: "The parking spaces in the car park in question are extremely generous."
He added: "People who park outside the marked bays make it very difficult for other shoppers to park easily and get to the shops.
"We are very pleased to hear that one lady who received a fixed penalty notice says she will take more care to park properly next time - that is precisely what we are trying to encourage, so that all customers are able to park easily.
"There are ample signs around the car park explaining the regulations to customers, and information on the back of the tickets explaining the process for anyone who feels they wish to take up the matter with us."
But Pauline Smith, a Blackburn receptionist, blasted the company and its attendant for "not using common sense" and claimed they were using the tickets as an excuse to make money. Mrs Smith was ticketed after she parked outside Matalan last Sunday but said she had no choice but to park touching the white lines as a 4x4 vehicle was parked at the side of her, taking up space. She said: "This is absolutely ridiculous.
"If I hadn't parked slightly touching the white lines my husband and I would not have been able to get out of the car.
"I was only in the shop for 30 minutes and through no fault of my own have been given a £25 fine.
"I have written to Matalan and NCP to complain as this is totally unfair and I expect my ticket to be ripped up."
Another motorist, Bob Seed, 57, from Mellor , was booked while he was enjoying a swim at the JJB leisure centre.
He said: "This is absolutely bonkers. The car park attendant just said I had parked crooked.
"I had not. The car park was almost empty when I parked and after a life in the motor trade parking cars in showrooms on an exact spot I know how to park.
"The businesses which the car park serves will lose out as customers will go elsewhere."
Neil Herron from the People Say No campaign, which believes parking enforcement firms are tageting drivers just to make money, said: "It is offensive beyond belief and simply highlights that this is not about parking control but about revenue generation for private companies such as NCP.
"These tickets must be thrown out on their ears and I urge customers to show the shops that this is no way for them to behave and take their custom elsewhere."
11:23am Wednesday 13th September 2006
posted by Neil Herron at 1:57 PM
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