Parking fine puts us off returning to Carlisle

By Pamela McGowan

Last updated at 12:38, Monday, 06 August 2012

A group of cyclists has been put off visiting Carlisle after their van was given a parking ticket as they spent more than £100 in the city’s Sands Centre.

The visiting cyclists

The 10-strong group completed the popular Hadrian’s Wall cycle route, some of them for charity.

Having researched the route, they arranged to meet their support vehicle at the Sands Centre where they could get a meal.

Kathy England, one of the cyclists, said it all went to plan except that the van wouldn’t fit neatly into the parking bay markings.

“There was nowhere specific to park a van.

“It was a quiet corner of the car park with hardly any cars in so we thought it would be okay.

“We did our best and paid for a ticket,” she said.

“With the driver, there were 11 of us altogether and we were there for over an hour. We all had food, drinks and refreshments – we would have spent well over £100 between us.

“When we came out we had a £50 parking ticket. We just couldn’t believe it.”

The group, from the Manchester area, launched an appeal to Carlisle City Council, which runs the car park, explaining the circumstances – but it was unsuccessful.

Kathy said: “It just leaves a really bad taste in your mouth in terms of them welcoming visitors to Carlisle. For somewhere like the Sands Centre, where a lot of people like us must stop because it’s right next to the cycleway. You would have thought they would have somewhere for vans.”

“I honestly don’t know how we could have avoided the fine. We did our best to ensure we weren’t doing anything wrong.

“It would put me off coming back to Carlisle.”

However a city council spokeswoman said that advice was displayed on the ticket machine.

“The parking fine was served as the van was taking up two bays and only one ticket was purchased.

“Information on the ticket machines state that vehicles need to park wholly within the markings and that wide vehicles should not park in The Sands Centre car park.

“It is the driver's responsibility,” she added.

First published at 11:30, Monday, 06 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk