Just over a week ago I met some friends and colleagues at Chieveley Services – on the A34 at Newbury – for a business meeting. Not the most glamorous venue I know, but needs must.
There were four of us in total and we were there for four hours. During that time we had three drinks each and lunch.
A couple of days ago I received a parking fine through the post. £80.00 or reduced to £50.00 if paid within two weeks.
Apparently there is a sign at the entrance to and in prominent places within the car park stating that parking is free for two hours and after that you have to pay. This is controlled by ANPR cameras.
For cars the parking charge is £25 in the short term area or £10 in the long term area. I hadn’t noticed these signs which is my own fault but even so I think both the fine and the parking charges are a bit of a rip off.
For those that don’t know these services they are basically the same as any motorway services. It’s not like you can park there and wander off shopping or go somewhere else. There’s nothing else there, nowhere to go, nothing to do, except be in the services. We were in the services the whole time spending money on drinks and food.
Plus, how come it costs more than twice as much to park in short term than it does in long term?? I don’t know what, if any, the time limits are on each zone but by their very names if you park in short term you would surely be there less time than if you park in long stay. Yet you have to pay more than twice as much for the privilege.
I think from now on I will use one of the other services in the area out of principle.
Not happy!
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You do realise that these tickets have no legal standing, and that if you ignore them they’ll go away, don’t you?
Hi Johnny
I thought that if signs were displayed then it was legal so I have paid the fine.
Do you have links to any sites with information about the legality?