Motorists see red over Inverness car park
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More people have been speaking out about problems with a city centre car park after issues were highlighted in the Courier.
The Courier has been inundated with people sharing their experiences using car parks owned by Britannia Parking after we reported how complaints were mounting.
Some say they have been fined even after buying appropriate parking tickets while others claim to have been fined even though they ended up not using the car park at all.
A number have said they also faced issues when trying to raise concerns with the firm including over broken parking meters and issues using the payment app.
Some have been confused by a lack of clear signage and new policies for the site, particularly with regards to blue badge holders.
Digital exclusion concerns have also been raised.
David Scott is one of those who got in touch.
He said: “I was at the same car park mentioned at Rose Street on August 8 and somehow was given a fine despite paying £2.50 for four hours.
“I even have proof I paid Britannia Parking the amount from my bank account which came out the next day.
“I've emailed the company and sent an image of the bank transaction. Heard nothing back at present.
“I was at a family gathering in Inverness on the day and am always very careful about allocated parking times...I knew I had almost 30 minutes to go before it expired.
"I'm really angry to get this fine and have no idea why my car was flagged up.”
He is not alone. Many other local residents appear to have have had a similar experience.
Charlie Max said: “I got a ticket once. Machine wasn’t working so I was trying to get the app to pay. App wasn’t working either (I don’t know why). I drove off without actually using the car park. Apparently because I spent five minutes there (trying to pay) was long enough to get the penalty fine.”
Margaret Mcinnes said: “I got a parking ticket the other week, although I appealed against it as their machines were out of order, so I couldn’t get a ticket, and couldn’t get into the app, but they still insisted I had to pay the fine, ridiculous situation.”
Rona Hooper said: "I downloaded the app to try and pay and it didn't work. So I haven't been back since."
Karin MacDonald: “I got one too but have ticket as I keep them which I shouldn’t have to do. Same as others have said – very hard to contact them!”
Inverness councillor for Millburn and Highland Old Peoples’ champion Isabelle MacKenzie previously spoke about her concerns particularly for elderly residents using the car park and this week said: “Thank you The Inverness Courier for taking up this story. I’m concerned for those who do not have an appropriate mobile, to use the app. Discrimination to older people by digital exclusion.”
A number of others spoke out about unclear signage, confusion and lack of inclusivity at the car park.
Alan Dubh-Smith said: “I had customers in my work today who said they were just up visiting and they couldn’t get a ticket because they wanted people to use an app and they don’t have a smartphone (older couple) but they chose to avoid parking and going to these shops too – the shops themselves should complain to the owner of this land. ”
Geraldine Walker said: “We used to go to Starbucks, stopped going there now as we got a few fines, I am disabled, didn’t know it had been taken over, so thought disabled got free, our mistake for thinking that.”
Alice Macmaster said: “Thanks for bringing this up, I got a letter from this company, according to them I parked on the 8th August. I have been given a short time to pay this. I used my blue badge to park in the disabled bays for years, and have always been told I didn’t have to pay anything?”
Fanaidh Bālaichean said: “My carer had £300 worth of fines, Cause she was the carer driver for her disabled charge she had to pay. It was sickening.
“Myself and my wife are blue badge holders, they got me a ticket. They rely on the fact that blue badge holders don’t tend to read the notice or go to the payment machine. They can whistle for the fee.”
Lorna Young: “I certainly don’t have the money for the appropriate mobile so no more Inverness centre for me. I’m registered disabled.”
Contacted for comment a spokesperson for Britannia Parking said: “Britannia Parking took over the management of the car park at Rose Street Retail Park in April this year, the car park has operated on a pay on arrival basis for many years with a published tariff.
"On taking over operation, we immediately upgraded the three pay machines to accept payments by coin and card. A Pay By Phone facility is also available for customers who prefer to pay through an App.”
