45-minute shop queue leads to big parking fine

A disabled driver has been fined for overstaying in a car park despite having to queue for 45 minutes to get into the store.

Peter Hayes (74), of Sutton St James, visited Spalding’s B&M Bargains store and overstayed the time limit in the car park by 13 minutes.

He has since been sent a £100 fine by G24, the company that monitors parking at the store on Westlode Street.

He said: “I parked in the car park and joined the queue to enter the store, which at that time was back to the road.

“I waited 45 minutes to get into the shop. Once I was inside I spent £70 and had to wait another 30 minutes to get through the checkout.

“By the time I got back to my car I had been parked there for 132 minutes – the time limit is 120 minutes – so after all that I was 12 minutes over.

“A few days later I received a £100 fine in the post. I was told the fine would reduce to £60 if I paid it within a certain time, or it would go to court if I refuse to pay it.”

Mr Hayes, who is currently staying with his daughter in Donington, contacted G24’s customer services department to explain the situation and was told he would have to fill in an appeal form and await a decision.

He added: “I was disgusted. You would have thought that B&M would have arranged for the parking restrictions to be lifted for the time being.

“We’re all doing what we can to get through this. There are fewer shops to go in and inevitably it’s going to take longer than usual to do your shopping.

“It’s not as if people are going to be parking there and going into town to park because there are so few places open.”

The Voice contacted B&M Stores but hadn’t received a comment at the time of going to press.