Harrogate MP intervenes over parking fines 'nasty shock' at St James Retail Park

'Shop local' campaign launched in Harrogate by BID during second lockdown

Customers were angry at having been given fines for parking in what they thought were spaces on St James Retail Park in Knaresborough.

The spaces were actually unmarked trolley bays without any of the usual barriers, markings or shelter.

Customers had been using them for parking for years but new arrangements for enforcement by car park managers HX Car Park Management Ltd meant that fines were unexpectedly issued.

Following complaints from constituents Mr Jones contacted HX Car Park Management and won a change in policy.

The company have now promised to write off all parking fines for these spaces and will not issue any more until the trolley bays are clearly marked as ‘no parking’.

In their letter to Mr Jones they say: “As we only recently began issuing tickets through a self-ticketer, our client received a high volume of complaints due to drivers parking here previously and not being issues a Penalty Charge Notice.

"Consequently, our client requested that all appeals be accepted and no further tickets issued until marking have been put in place to state ‘no parking’.”

Mr Jones said: “I was pleased to help several constituents with their appeals. Thanks to parking management company for being sympathetic to the appeals that were made.

"They could simply have ignored them and implemented the fines but they properly considered the evidence we put before them and chose a fair way or resolving the problem. Credit where credit is due.”

Mr Jones continued: “The letter does end with the warning though that, when the bays are marked up, then fines will start again so I would urge everyone to make sure they are parking legally to avoid a nasty shock when they get back to their car.”

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