Inverness drivers are left baffled by covered parking machines
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CONFUSED motorists have appealed after they were fined while using a Highland Council car park in Inverness – despite believing fees were not in operation at the time.
Reader Dileas Crawford from Daviot contacted the Highland News after she attended an event at Eden Court on Sunday afternoon, parking her car at the nearby Highland Council headquarters on Glenurquhart Road.
"The machines all had black bags covering them so we just thought they either weren't working or there was no charging because it was a Sunday," she said.
"When we came back out a couple of hours later we found we had been given a ticket for £60, or £30 if we paid within 14 days."
Mrs Crawford said there was a traffic warden nearby and when she asked him for an explanation he said the machines weren't accepting card payments, but spaces should still have been paid for with cash.
Mrs Crawford is now appealing against her ticket, but yesterday a council spokeswoman insisted all machines are clearly marked.
"All parking machines at the HQ car park clearly state 'Credit and debit card payments available soon' and the card payment slots have been taped over to discourage motorists from attempting to use them," she said.
"The machines also clearly give instructions on how to use the coin operating slot and if people experience faults with the machines a telephone number is clearly provided for people to call."
