Parking under fire
PARKING policy at the Moto service station near Wetherby has come under fire from motorists.
Several local and non-local motorists have contacted the Wetherby News in recent weeks to complain about the station's two hour parking limit and its "unjustified" enforcement of parking charges.
Tim Carr, 23, was issued with a 100 fine after he fell asleep late at night in his car for five hours on his way home to Newcastle from a gig in Sheffield.
He said: "I felt tired so I decided to pull in at the service station for a nap to be on the safe side.
"It was the middle of the night and there was absolutely nobody around but a couple of weeks later I received a fine for 100 which would be reduced to 50 if I paid it quickly.
"Apparently there is a sign by the roundabout at the entrance to the services and, in the middle of a lot of writing, it does say the limit is two hours.
"But you would have to actually stop and read it to know it's there - it's ridiculous."
Keith Perch, editor of the Leicester Mercury, received an 80 charge through the post for calling in at the services twice in one day.
Mr Perch was driving to Newcastle from Leicester to watch his daughter play football when he stopped at the services for 10 minutes.
Five hours later, he called in again for 20 minutes on his way home.
Some weeks later he was furious to receive a charge from CPS Plus Ltd, the company Moto employs to police its parking.
"CP Plus Ltd can't differentiate between someone who stops for five hours and someone who calls in twice in five hours," he said.
"The DVLA has sent my name and address to some idiotic car parking company which claims I spent five hours parked in a motorway service station car park and as a result I received a fine for 80. Fortunately I wrote and got it cancelled."
A spokesman for Moto said CP Plus Ltd was a reputable firm which it used to monitor parking at all its service stations.
Cars are monitored as they enter the service areas and tracked again as they leave and there is no physical checking on site.
CP Plus Ltd was unavailable for comment on Mr Perch's case. Tell us what you think about parking charges at Moto.
Have you been stung? Email us at wetherby.news@ypn.co.uk
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Weather for Harrogate
Wednesday 08 February 2012
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