MP backs call to end rip-off charges
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CALLS by the Highland News for action over a controversial city car park are gathering steam after national politicians swung their weight behind our campaign.
In recent weeks dozens of readers have been left facing demands for up to £160 each from Smart Parking Ltd, which operates the car park at Strothers Lane in Inverness city centre.
The HN has now discovered that the car park site is owned by a British Aerospace pension fund, raising questions about their moral responsibility when it comes to decisions about what they choose to invest in.
The whopping charges come despite many committing only minor infringements, such as incorrectly inputting one or two digits of their registration number when buying a ticket.
In other cases drivers were sent fines even though they could not buy tickets because of faulty machines – or left because no spaces were free.
The number of complaints the HN has received since originally asking for your stories just before Christmas stands at more than 80, and Inverness MP Drew Hendry has now joined those expressing dissatisfaction with the way the car park works.
“We’ve had a number of people complaining about the way the parking system is being operated at Strothers Lane,” he said.
“It seems quite confusing for folk and very inflexible wherever something goes beyond normal parking experience.
“We’ve written previously to the company to speak to them about the issues, but they’ve ignored our communications, so I’m going to continue to try to speak to them and, in the meantime, am working with colleagues to get much fairer controls put in place.”
He has been joined in his call for action by Highlands and Islands MSP David Stewart, who said he was aware of hundreds of complaints about car parks run by Smart Parking.
“I would have thought a proportionate charge could be levied by the parking company for legitimate infringements, but I have heard numerous stories about machines not working properly, drivers being unable to park and various other issues, and still penalty notices have been issued,” he said.
“You would think with all the complaints raised against this company that they would strive to sort out a lot of these problems and build up a working relationship with the community.”
He recommended any driver who feels they have been unjustly penalised should first exhaust Smart Parking’s own appeals process and then, if they’re still not happy, go to the Parking On Private Land Appeals adjudicator (POPLA).
Meanwhile, Inverness Business District (Bid) manager Mike Smith has also been talking about the impact of the car park on the city centre’s reputation.
Providing city centre parking to compete with free out-of-town alternatives was a key priority Bid wanted to achieve in its current five-year cycle, which is ending next year.
Speaking of his frustration at the situation Mr Smith said: “If we are honest, there’s very little that we can do because that car park is independently owned.
“It’s not owned by a business that’s located locally. That’s frustrating because it gives a negative face.”
More widely he acknowledged city centre parking has been “a challenge” and said he would be meeting with Highland Council soon to discuss the issue.
The HN tried to contact the pension fund for comment before going to press, but failed to receive a response from them.
