Parking row rages

From the archive, first published Friday 22nd Jun 2007.

A SUPERMARKET is refusing to change its parking arrangements, despite coming under fire from customers.Several motorists have complained after receiving £90 parking tickets at the Co-op car park in Richmond, North Yorkshire.Customer Mac Bryant has taken his protest further after being fined for overstaying the time limit by 15 minutes.In a letter to Co-operative Group chief executive Martin Beaumont, Mr Bryant said that customers were boycotting the store.He said in the letter: "It is important to understand the social context of the car parking arrangement and customer experience at your Richmond store."Richmond is a small, friendly market town with an active community. The high-tech camera-based arrangements and management approach you have put in place would be experienced as impersonal and unfriendly anywhere."Here, they go against the whole culture of the town."Mr Bryant, of Fontenay Road, Richmond, originally said he would go to court over the charge. But, he has now paid after receiving a letter threatening him with bailiffs and court fees.The complaints began after Co-op appointed Civil Enforcement to run the car park. The company films vehicles entering and leaving and fines motorists who exceed the two-hour free parking.A Co-op spokesman said: "We are continuing to receive positive feedback from some customers about the parking restrictions and will not, therefore, be lifting them."However, we will investigate complaints from anyone who feels they have been unfairly fined, including Mr Bryant. We will be contacting him to discuss his concerns."

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