Nations support parking crusade
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POLITICIANS from across the country have been coming out in support of the Highland News campaign for action over Inverness’s Strothers Lane car park.
A total of 44 MPs have signed the Early Day Motion tabled at Westminster by Inverness SNP representative Drew Hendry.
Calling for the Westminster government to bring companies like Smart Parking who run the car park next to TK Maxx in Inverness under statutory regulation many of the signatories are fellow Nationalists.
However they also include Conservative, Labour and Lib Dem members as well as others from Plaid Cymru and Northern Ireland parties the DUP and SDLP.
Mr Hendry said: “It is an issue that has resonated with MPs from every nation of the UK and from MPs representing seven different political parties.
“Companies like Smart Parking must be accountable to the communities they serve.
“In a recent letter to the minister (UK Communities Minister Sajid Javid) I asked that he undertake an immediate review of the government’s position on this issue.
“I await his response and I have now written to all MPs asking that they back better regulation in this area.”
We are still receiving stories from readers who have fallen foul of rules at Strothers Lane, all of which we’re passing to Trading Standards.
This week Inverness pensioner Wilma Hickman (75) said she would go to jail rather than pay the £100 Smart Parking have charged her for staying for 14 minutes without buying a ticket.
“I drove in and couldn’t find a space, waited for a while then drove out again,” she said. “I appealed but they say they’re upholding the charge because their signs advise that by remaining in the car park I agreed to their terms and conditions.
“I never got out of the car the whole time I was there, so how could I read the signs?
“Having talked to people about it now, as far as I’m concerned they can take me to court if they like. I won’t be paying this.”
If you have received a charge you think is unfair after parking at the Strothers Lane car park let us know at newsdesk@spp-group.com.
