A Harrogate woman has said she won’t return to Ripley for walks after receiving a £100 fine for parking.
Ripley car park, which is part of the estate owned by castle owner Sir Thomas Ingilby and his wife Lady Emma, began charging for parking on June 20.
Janet Adamowicz received a penalty charge for returning to her car two minutes late, after paying £1 for an hour’s parking.
She said the expiry time was displayed on the machine but no ticket was issued.
Ms Adamowicz, who has been a frequent visitor to Ripley, said
“I will not be attending Ripley again for walks, cafes or shops and it would appear I’m not the only one to feel like this.
“People don’t go on walks if they have to stress about getting back to their car in a limited time before being fined £100, people like leisurely strolls with no time limits.”
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Parking charges were introduced in Ripley after dialogue with businesses, the school, the church, the Friends of Ripley and Harrogate Borough Council.
It costs £1 an hour, which is redeemable in local outlets, £1.20 for two hours, £3.50 for six hours and £4 for eight hours.
Other organisations have recently announced parking charges, including the Inn at South Stainley and Yorkshire Water, which plans to introduce fees at its reservoirs, including Fewston and Swinsty.
The Ripley car park and the Inn at South Stainley, which redeems charges for customers, were often used as a free park and ride.
Mike Gosling, the Ripley estate’s business manager, said the system was working well and the estate had taken an extremely understanding view of appeals against fines, with several already overturned.
Ripley businesses, he said, liked the fact that the £1 charge for the first hour can be redeemed in local shops.
Automatic number plate recognition identifies how long vehicles stay in the car park.
Mr Gosling acknowledged there had been a problem with the software issuing tickets, which do not have to be displayed.
He said if anyone had received a fine for being just a few minutes late he would personally contact the company providing the system to have the fine cancelled.
Update: Ms Adamowicz has notified us her fine has been cancelled
Harrogate doctor’s surgery defends parking finesThe practice manager of Kingswood Surgery on Wetherby Road has said it’s necessary to issue parking fines for its car park to deter non-patients from using it.
Kingswood Surgery and Well Pharmacy are separate entities that happen to share the same building called Kingswood Medical Centre.
On Tuesday, the Stray Ferret reported how a woman collecting a prescription at Well Pharmacy was fined £100 for parking longer than the allowed 15 minutes of free parking for non-patients of the surgery.
Shirley Hopkinson said the short time period was unfair on people collecting prescriptions when the pharmacy was busy.
However, Liz Walker, practice manager at Kingswood Surgery, said patients of the surgery, rather than visitors to the pharmacy, had priority for the car park.
Difficult to park
Ms Walker told the Stray Ferret the car park has been managed by a private company for four-and-a-half years.
The company, called Civil Enforcement, was brought in because visitors and staff at nearby Harrogate Hospital would use the car park for extended periods of time, making it difficult for patients at the surgery to find a place to park.
Ms Barker said:
“We were therefore left with no option but to introduce the current system.”
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Ms Barker said that signs explaining the rules were well advertised and understood, and patients of the surgery were “very supportive” of the arrangements.
“Any patient or visitor to our site can benefit from unlimited free parking through a simple car registration process on entering our reception area. We would not wish to make any changes that would have a detrimental impact on our patients’ ability to access appointments at the surgery.”
She added that the current system of fining non-patients who use the car park for longer than 15 minutes would not be changing.
Pensioner with bladder issue wins Harrogate parking fine appeal“Following the publication of your article, we consulted our Patient Group who agreed that they would not like to see any changes to the current arrangements.”
A pensioner with a bladder problem, who was fined after parking in Harrogate for four minutes to use the toilet, has won his appeal.
Lee Chadwick, 78, was able to get the fine overturned at the second time of asking by sending proof of his medication.
Mr Chadwick, who lives in Markington, parked at the back of the taxi rank on Station Parade to use the public toilet, leaving his wife in the passenger seat.
When he returned his wife was explaining the situation to the traffic warden. Mr Chadwick also talked to the warden but he still issued a fine.
Harrogate Borough Council wrote to Mr Chadwick saying he could either settle in the next 14 days at the discounted rate of £35 or pay £70 if he waited longer.
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He thought the fine was unreasonable so appealed. The council initially rejected the appeal but asked for a doctor’s letter as proof of his bladder problem.
Mr Chadwick was not prepared to bother with such a request. Instead he sent proof of medication, which has now worked.
Mr Chadwick told the Stray Ferret his good news, adding:
Pensioner with bladder issues ‘fined in Harrogate after parking to pee’“Harrogate Borough Council has just advised me that they have cancelled the parking penalty notice.
“It means that my anticipated appearance in the Supreme Court will not come.”
A parking warden fined a pensioner with a bladder problem who says he parked in Harrogate for four minutes to use the toilet.
Lee Chadwick, 78, has medication for an overactive bladder so when he feels the urge to use the toilet he has to act quickly.
Mr Chadwick, who lives in Markington, parked at the back of the taxi rank on Station Parade to use the public toilet, leaving his wife in the passenger seat.
When he returned his wife was explaining the situation to the parking warden. Mr Chadwick also talked to the warden but he still issued a fine.
Read more:
The pensioner then contacted Harrogate Borough Council to appeal. However, the council replied today to say it cannot uphold his appeal without more evidence.
A council parking administrator wrote to Mr Chadwick saying he could either settle in the next 14 days at the discounted rate of £35 or pay £70 if he waited longer. Alternatively, Mr Chadwick could ask his doctor to send a letter about his condition.
But he told the Stray Ferret he did not wish to bother his doctor about such a request. He added:
“It was our first trip out to Harrogate in a long time but we will not be going back again after this incident.
“I do think it is unreasonable. I have tried to appeal and I will continue to fight it. If I need to I will take it to the magistrates’ court. I have faith in the magistrates.
“If the council continues to insist on this fine then I think it is quite cruel and unjust.”
A spokeswoman for Harrogate Borough Council said:
“Mr Chadwick is appealing the ticket and we are awaiting further information from him to confirm the circumstances and his medical condition.”