I visited Tenby from October 28 to 31 along with my wife and another couple, one of whom has a blue badge owing to having Parkinson’s Disease along with two knee replacements, so he finds walking very difficult.
We had a wonderful time and will be returning again next year.
I parked in several different places during our stay, always parking in disabled parking bays with the blue badge clearly on display in the front. I adhered to the time limits imposed. I checked the notices on these bays, none of which said anything about having to pay for using them.
On November 3, I received a parking charge, apparently from The Royal Gatehouse car park SA70 8AP, which claimed I parked there without paying. A £60 payment is demanded, which will rise to £100 if I do not pay by December 8. There were also threats that if I don’t pay they will pass the debt onto their debt collectors.
I have been sent four pictures of my car, two being close-ups of the number plate and the other two show it being driven on what I believe to be a public road.
The demand says that signs and notices are in place stating I had to pay but I have been sent no proof of this.
I appealed this charge (but didn’t accept liability), stating that I was not aware that I had parked anywhere which needed me to pay because I had used disabled parking bays.
I asked them to check their pictures which would prove this and it would also show the badge on display. I pointed out about the pictures, that none showing me parked in this car park and I also sent them two pictures of the blue badge.
Last Friday, I received an email telling me this:
“Whilst we note the comments and reason for appeal, we can confirm that the vehicle remained on site for 1 hour and 52 minutes with no payment made to authorise your stay. We must advise that this car park is run by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras which take a time and date stamped image of the vehicle on entry and exit, measuring the length of time the vehicle remained on site, this information is then cross-referenced with the data from the payment services.
“Due to no payment being found, we can confirm that this PCN has been issued correctly.
“Please be advised that there are no concessions for blue badge holders at this location therefore payment was required. The terms and conditions of parking on site explain that parking tariffs apply at all times and how to make a payment is clearly detailed. It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure they have read and fully understood the signage before parking on site. Remaining on site means you are agreeing to the terms and conditions set out.”
Again no evidence was provided and no person’s name was attached to the correspondence.
I cannot email a reply as they use a ‘no reply’ email; I can’t call and speak to anyone to discuss things as it’s all automated and there is no actual address to contact them as they only use Premier Park LTD. PO BOX 624 Exeter EX1 9JG.
I am concerned this is a scam so was wondering if anyone has any information on this?
This is not good publicity for Tenby especially as this could be a case of discrimination to the disabled community visiting Tenby.
Andrew White
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I certainly sympathize with Andrew White (letters page December 2) over his disgraceful treatment by the owners of this car park (Royal Gatehouse, Tenby).
A couple of years ago I parked there for 20 minutes. I put a 1 pound coin into the machine but no ticket came out.
Having paid I stayed there for my 20 minutes. It is the owner’s responsibility to keep the machines in working order, not the customers.
Like him I then felt the full weight of the heavy handed way in which they deal with genuine users of their car park.
I pointed out that they were quite happy to take my money, so my conscience was clear.
However I did not take them through the court process, because being in my eighties and not the best of health, I could do without the aggravation. I have not parked there since.
There is a good car park where the Ford garage used to be, with a very helpful gentleman on duty. So I go there as needed.
I avoid machines in car parks if I can. There is one in Saundersfoot harbour which has very small keys to press.
The last time I was there I had to ask a young person to do it for me, because I could not read the letters on the keys in the daylight of that day. And in case anyone is wondering about my eyesight, it is well inside the driving requirements!