Published: 21:33 AEDT, 21 October 2024 | Updated: 23:49 AEDT, 21 October 2024
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A pensioner was slapped with a £60 fine for overstaying a car park's five-minute grace period - by 11 seconds.
Brenda Reed had returned to the UK for the first time in 60 years when she received the fine after parking in Margate's Lido Car Park in Kent.
She had flown from Nashville, USA for a trip down memory lane to visit the Winter Gardens with her niece, after seeing The Beatles play the venue in 1963.
However, her day was ruined after she realised she had parked in the wrong car park and was later fined for failing to leave the site just seconds too late.
Brenda said her 'crazy' £60 ticket should have been torn up and she had to pay the fine after her appeal was rejected.
Brenda Reed (pictured) had returned to the UK for the first time in 60 years for a trip down memory lane with her niece
The sign at Margate's Lido Car Park in Kent where Brenda stayed 11 seconds past the five-minute grace period
She said: 'We were just looking for the Winter Gardens and realised we needed to go further up the coastline, so had literally stopped the car, got out, realised our mistake, and drove further up.
'It was a nostalgic visit for me and was totally ruined by receiving a £60 fine for pulling in and out of a parking lot.
'I felt so sad that the wonderful memory we had experienced, and a walk down memory lane for me, was messed up by the craziness of such a large fine for driving in and out of a car park.
'I did not see any clear sign in the car park that something like this could happen.
'Signage in the car park needs to be much bigger and clearer, and there should be a 10 or 15-minute grace period before issuing a ticket.'
However, she and her niece were concerned the fee would rise to £100 while they waited a decision so paid the £60 upfront - and their appeal was rejected anyway.
The fine was issued by car park enforcement firm Parking Eye, which uses number-plate recognition cameras.
A spokesperson said the rules are displayed on 'prominent and highly visible signs'.
Brenda Reed and her niece mistakenly parked at the Lido car park in Margate
Lucy Mwangi (pictured) said there is little consideration for tourists who don’t know the area
Martin Pleece believes that parking restrictions are not made clear to motorists
Brenda is not the only motorist who disagrees with this.
Local resident Lucy Mwangi, 52, argued there is little consideration for tourists or those who do not know the area.
She said: 'Sometimes you feel like they're doing that to catch you out.
'I think they should give you more leeway because people keep being caught out.'
Martin Pleece, 74, added that the onus is placed on motorists to seek out the rules - rather than making any restrictions as clear as possible.
He said: 'It's like with many car parks, you've got to look, haven't you?
'Whatever car park you go in, you've got to stop if necessary, get out of your car, and read the signs. It's not right at all.'
A ParkingEye spokesperson said: 'The car park at Lido in Margate is monitored by ANPR camera systems and has 14 prominent and highly visible signs that give motorists clear guidance on how to use the car park responsibly.
'Motorists are advised that tariffs apply 24/7 and that they have the option to pay by the machine on-site or by phone.
'The motorist parked in the car park without paying and therefore received a parking charge.
'ParkingEye operates a BPA (British Parking Association) audited appeals process, which motorists can use to appeal their parking charge.
'The motorist did not provide any mitigating circumstances for failing to adhere to the terms and conditions of the car park and their appeal was rejected.'
Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group
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