Over recent months the Ross Gazette has received many comments form local residents and visitors to the area complaining about parking tickets issued at local attractions. Many of the tickets are the results of people failing to comply with the requirements of the parking company. However, a motorist has complained to the Ross Gazette that a genuine mistake has resulted in them having to pay a fine of £100 to Parking Eye.

Claire Alway visited Symonds Yat on July 8th and paid £3 to park in the Butterfly Zoo car park, which is managed by Parking Eye.

Claire arrived at 14.22 and left at 15.04, the price she paid should have covered her stay in the car park, however she made an error when typing in her registration number - her registration number is WR14 BNV but she entered WR12 BNV.

Claire was shocked to receive a Parking Charge Notice and appealed against it. However this was unsuccessful and Claire has been informed that the fine still stands.

The POPLA assessor said that ‘your full correct vehicle registration is required’ and failure to comply with the terms and conditions will result in a Parking Charge of £100.’

The Assessor added:?‘The operator has provided photographic evidence of the vehicle WR14BNV entering the site at 14.22 and exiting at 15.04.” There is no record of payment for this registration number. In summing up he said:?“As a valid payment for parking was not made the terms and conditions of the car park were not met. I conclude that the operator has correctly issued the parking charge.”

Claire told the Ross Gazette that she was very angry and wanted to make others aware to take care when entering their registration number.