Shopper's anger over late night parking fiasco in Leamington

[dutchman]

Late-night Christmas shopping in Leamington turned out to cost rather more than one family bargained for after they found themselves locked-out of a town centre car park and facing a £50 fine.


Ian Anderson with his daughter Millie-Jayne

As all the shops had advertised how they were remaining open until 8pm on December 22, it didn’t occur to Ian Anderson that the multi-storey Covent Garden car park would close at exactly the same time.

He and his wife Beena certainly didn’t notice any prominent signs to that effect when they left their vehicle after driving from their home in Lighthorne with their four-year-old daughter Millie Jane.

Mr Anderson, a 42-year-old business analyst said: “I suppose we spent about £100 on gifts before heading back to the car park at about five or ten past eight.

“That’s when we discovered we were locked out - another lady motorist was locked in - and we were both told we would have to pay £50 to have our vehicles released.”

Mr Anderson counted another 30 or 40 vehicles still in the car park which is owned by Warwick District Council.

He said: “Although we didn’t spot signs for the 8pm closure we did see one for Mayfair Security.

“When we called out their guard he was very apologetic and told us he’d been called out on numerous occasions over the Christmas period and was expecting even more calls because of the number of vehicles still inside the car park. We didn’t want to pay £50 to have our car released so ended up spending £15 on a taxi home.”

Mr Anderson now wonders how many other motorists were trapped over Christmas and how much money the district council made from fines.

But Gary Charlton, the council’s parking services manager, said some of the cars left in Covent Garden may have been parked overnight and they had only received three calls for help on December 22.

He said: “Only one vehicle was actually released when our contractor arrived. The car park has been closed at 8pm for the last few years during late-night shopping and this is the first time a problem has been raised at this location.”

Mr Charlton added: “We will be happy to review this for next year.”

In Leamington town centre the Royal Priors shopping arcade car park closed at 9pm while the slightly less central Dormer Place multi-storey stayed open until midnight.

Royal Priors manager Gerry McManus said: “If we are promoting the town as a really nice shopping area then I think you have to allow an hour’s grace for people to get back to their cars, especially in the run-up to Christmas.

“Our car park closed at 9pm after the shops closed at 8pm. We are also currently experimenting with free parking after 3pm from Monday to Thursday up until the end of February, when the idea will be reviewed.”

Leamington trader Gavin Pass, who has owned Parkinsons clothing shop in Regent Street for the past 18 years and actually spoke to Mr Anderson after the incident said: “We’re already fighting out-of-town shopping and online shopping - in this case it looks like we’re trying to fine those who do take the trouble to come into town and support the town’s economy.

“You just can’t treat people this way and expect them to come back.”

Parminder Singh Birdi, who is an executive member of Leamington Chamber of Trade was reluctant to criticise the district council because he feels officers have been responsive on the subject of off-street parking, reducing costs in some cases.

Mr Birdi added: “We need to look at the time the car parks close when there is late-night shopping. I will raise this matter at the chamber’s next meeting.”

Les Martin, operations director for Cubbington-based Mayfair Security, said: “Our policy is not to comment on the district council or any of our other customers - we simply followed the instructions we were given.”

[StevieG]

Plenty of buck passing going on here