Ex-councillor urges car park operators to change approach on enforcement
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A FORMER convenor of Highland Council has called on the operators of Inverness’s controversial Strothers Lane car park to “draw a line” and get to grips with the problems there.
Sandy Park received a £60 penalty fine after he parked at the Smart Parking site last September, only to find the ticket machine wouldn’t accept his money.
His story originally appeared in the Highland News just before Christmas, as one of dozens of people who have contacted us about issues they have had at the site.
These have included people being fined for entering the car park and not actually parking, and others entering their registration number incorrectly into the ticket machine.
Mr Park, a former Nairn councillor, “grudgingly” sent off a cheque to clear the £60 charge, but was outraged to get a letter from debt collectors soon after looking for £160 as it transpired his cheque had never been cashed.
At the time he said he had no intention of paying the larger amount and that he would argue his case “in the highest court in the land” if necessary.
Recently he contacted the paper again to say he is still being pursued for the £160 but is sticking to his guns – and to congratulate the HN for continuing to publicise readers’ struggles with Smart Parking’s strict rules and refusal to make any exceptions for human error when it comes to their enforcement.
“When you hear about people being fined because of a single digit error in their registration number as they’re putting it into the machine, it seems ridiculous,” he said.
“I passed the car park recently and thought there were quite a few empty spaces in it, so hopefully the word is getting out about just how difficult things are there and people are just choosing to avoid it now.
“You would think Smart Parking would see some sense in drawing a line under things and changing their approach to enforcement.
“Even if they put a barrier up at the site, that would overcome a lot of the problems there seem to be around people driving in and then leaving when they can’t find a space, or being charged silly amounts after they get in and find the ticket machines aren’t working.
“Something surely has to be done about what is a real blight on the city centre.”
Let us know about any problems you have had at the Strothers Lane car park by emailing newsdesk@spp-group.com.
We are passing all the complaints we receive to Trading Standards, which is conducting its own investigation.
Alternatively you can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506 or take your complaint direct to British Aerospace’s pension fund, who actually own the site. Their number is 0800 917 9568.
