Fury at Riverside parking fines
Norwich Evening News
DOMINIC CHESSUM
Christmas shoppers at Riverside are being stung by huge parking fines - even though they are spending hundreds of pounds each at the retail park.
The hapless shoppers, who fail to realise there is a two hour free parking limit, are being caught out by a new number plate recognition system installed by the car park landlord three weeks ago.
Those who exceed their stay at the car park outside Big W are caught on camera and then a fine of £60 is automatically sent to their homes.
Although the system aims to catch our commuters and others who abuse the free parking, shoppers spending hundreds of pounds each in the run up to Christmas are now saying the free parking period should be reviewed.
Despite offering to show the car park operator, G24, the receipts to prove they were shopping at the park, the firm has insisted that they must still pay the fine, reminding shoppers if they pay within 14 days, the fined is reduced to £40.
Shoppers say they are disgusted and are calling for a fines amnesty for those who can prove they have been shopping at the retail park over the Christmas period.
Debbie Cowhiel, from Middleton Lane, Norwich, received a fine on December 3 after going shopping with her friend Sharon Fulcher on November 27.
She said: “I am livid about this. They will not let me off even though I have shown them the receipts.”
Sharon Fulcher spent more than £200 in the Riverside shops during the shopping trip.
She said: “We are angry because we were spending money in the shops.
“Having spent over £200 to get a £60 fine on top of that is really bad. I think they should waive the fines for shoppers over the Christmas period.”
Darren Wells, from Parson Road, Heartsease, also got fined after a shopping trip with his family. He is now fighting the charge and says some sort of ticket system would be a much better option.
He said: “We went round Currys, Outfit and Big W and then we had something to eat and fed the baby in the café there.
“We just did not realise there was a two hour limit.
“The next I knew we got a “civil traffic enforcement notice” in the post saying we had a fine and that a parking charge notice had been issue.
“There is no way you can get round the shops in two hours and the shops are going to loose their customers.”
Although the shops that rent out the units at the park have nothing to do with the parking situation, Big W is looking to get the situation changed.
A spokesman for the company said: “The decision to place a two hour parking limit was taken by the landlord of the Riverside Retail Park. This affects all retailers on the park. Woolworths does not agree with the policy and is doing everything it can to challenge it.”
A spokesman for the landlord of the car park said: “The landlord is now considering extending parking time on the car park now we have run a trial period and have noted reactions from locals regarding the system in place.
“There have been 83 cases where parking charges have been waived where reasons were justifiable or customers were close to the time limit.
“The system is lenient in that customers are given additional time to get back to their vehicles than that which is advertised.”
DOMINIC CHESSUM
Christmas shoppers at Riverside are being stung by huge parking fines - even though they are spending hundreds of pounds each at the retail park.
The hapless shoppers, who fail to realise there is a two hour free parking limit, are being caught out by a new number plate recognition system installed by the car park landlord three weeks ago.
Those who exceed their stay at the car park outside Big W are caught on camera and then a fine of £60 is automatically sent to their homes.
Although the system aims to catch our commuters and others who abuse the free parking, shoppers spending hundreds of pounds each in the run up to Christmas are now saying the free parking period should be reviewed.
Despite offering to show the car park operator, G24, the receipts to prove they were shopping at the park, the firm has insisted that they must still pay the fine, reminding shoppers if they pay within 14 days, the fined is reduced to £40.
Shoppers say they are disgusted and are calling for a fines amnesty for those who can prove they have been shopping at the retail park over the Christmas period.
Debbie Cowhiel, from Middleton Lane, Norwich, received a fine on December 3 after going shopping with her friend Sharon Fulcher on November 27.
She said: “I am livid about this. They will not let me off even though I have shown them the receipts.”
Sharon Fulcher spent more than £200 in the Riverside shops during the shopping trip.
She said: “We are angry because we were spending money in the shops.
“Having spent over £200 to get a £60 fine on top of that is really bad. I think they should waive the fines for shoppers over the Christmas period.”
Darren Wells, from Parson Road, Heartsease, also got fined after a shopping trip with his family. He is now fighting the charge and says some sort of ticket system would be a much better option.
He said: “We went round Currys, Outfit and Big W and then we had something to eat and fed the baby in the café there.
“We just did not realise there was a two hour limit.
“The next I knew we got a “civil traffic enforcement notice” in the post saying we had a fine and that a parking charge notice had been issue.
“There is no way you can get round the shops in two hours and the shops are going to loose their customers.”
Although the shops that rent out the units at the park have nothing to do with the parking situation, Big W is looking to get the situation changed.
A spokesman for the company said: “The decision to place a two hour parking limit was taken by the landlord of the Riverside Retail Park. This affects all retailers on the park. Woolworths does not agree with the policy and is doing everything it can to challenge it.”
A spokesman for the landlord of the car park said: “The landlord is now considering extending parking time on the car park now we have run a trial period and have noted reactions from locals regarding the system in place.
“There have been 83 cases where parking charges have been waived where reasons were justifiable or customers were close to the time limit.
“The system is lenient in that customers are given additional time to get back to their vehicles than that which is advertised.”
posted by Neil Herron at 9:59 AM
3 Comments:
I parked at Riverside on 25th June 2008 from 11am til 12pm, then again from 1pm until 1.40. Total for two visits.
I received a photo showing me aledgedly entering the park at 5.10am in the morning!!! and therefore I was fined £60 for 7hours of parking!!! Did anyone else have camera time problems for that day??????
I have just received a fine because I overstayed the 3 hour parking limit by 1 minute! It's so ridiculous I couldn't help laughing at how stupid this is.
I am going to appeal my fine, but knowing what parking companies are like, I'll probably end up paying the full fine plus administration fees.
How can I be judged the same as someone who over stays in the park for hours on end, when I was clearly trying to get out on time. The next time my small child wants the toilet before we return to the car, I'll ask them to pay the £40 fine shall I?
What a joke!
Thought I'd better report back that I have had my fine waived! I wrote a simple letter of appeal, and it was revoked within 2 weeks - no fines, nothing to pay.
Having read all the bad press about G24 Ltd I was prepared for the worst, but it has been surprisingly simple.
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