A South Tyneside lady has expressed her shock at being fined following the invention {that a} Council-run automotive park is now beneath non-public administration.
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The 54-year-old had parked in a disabled bay on the Garden Lane automotive park, in South Shields city centre, and displayed her blue badge on Sunday, October 8.
Just a few days later, a £100 positive arrived within the publish and when she challenged it, she found that the automotive park was not beneath the management of South Tyneside Council and is now managed by Euro Car Parks.
Tracey contested the positive however the firm acknowledged that it needed to be paid attributable to parking for disabled individuals at Garden Lane not being free beneath their administration.
She feels that South Tyneside Council ought to have knowledgeable residents that the automotive park was beneath non-public administration and the principles had modified.
Tracey mentioned: “I used to be very shocked after I obtained the positive as I wasn’t conscious that the automotive park was not managed by the Council anymore.
“There wasn’t any indicators put up on October 8 after I was there to say that it was not free.
“I do not suppose anybody is conscious that it’s not managed by South Tyneside Council anymore, I really feel that they need to be informing residents that it’s not free.
“I’ve been again since and there may be indicators there now however I nonetheless suppose that individuals realise as I’ve sat in Costa and watched individuals park up and walk away with out paying for a ticket.
“The positive was £100 however the firm lowered it to £60 as a result of I paid it inside 14 days however I’m not blissful about it.
“I’d have fortunately paid for a ticket however it simply feels just like the Council are going out of their strategy to create issues for individuals.”
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South Tyneside Council has confirmed that it by no means owned the Garden Lane automotive park and was solely imposing parking measures on behalf of the land proprietor.
A spokesperson for the Council commented: “Although Garden Lane Car Park is not council-owned land, the Council has carried out parking enforcement on behalf of the land agents representing the private Waterloo Square shopping development.
“This arrangement was terminated from 10 September 2023 following instruction from the land agents exercising their powers to change their enforcement operator.
“As a result, the Council removed all machines and signs, with the land agents bringing in a private operator to enforce their car park going forward.
“As the car park is no longer under Council enforcement, any enquiries should now be directed to the land agent and Euro Car Parks.”
You can discover all South Tyneside Council-owned automotive parks in South Shields city centre by clicking here.
The Shields Gazette has contacted Euro Car Parks for a remark.
